NEW DELHI: Human rights activists Daman Nath Dhungana and Padma Ratna Tuladhar today said they were stepping up efforts to help major political parties iron-out their differences and work towards consolidating the gains of the 2006 people's movement for democracy.

The due said that the gulf between the parties - Maoists and the rest-has widened as the latter decided to expel opponents, including then chief of army staff Rukumangud Katwal.

Addressing a gathering of Nepali diaspora and students at the premises of Jawahar Lal Nehru University, today, Dhungana said, “The crux of the present political stalemate is the fact that the Maoists wanted to expel opponents, including the former CoAS Katawal, distancing itself with other parties.”

Referring to then UCPN-Maoist-led coalition government's decision on Katawal, Dhungana said, “Maoists should know that in a coalition culture, some decisions they might think right could not be taken arbitrarily without taking coalition partners into confidence.”

Dhungana opined that the formation of a national government comprising of three major political players- UCPN-Maoists, Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML-was the only way forward to resolve the current standoff. “For this to happen, a high-level political mechanism, inclusive of the Madhes-based parties was an imperative.”

Highlighting Nepal-India relations, Dhungana said India was always ready to assist Nepal's endeavour to peace and economic development. However, be bemoaned that Nepal was not able to gain from India in a desired manner due to Nepalese politicians' “inability”.

Speaking on the same occasion, Tuladhar said the communists and non communists cannot sale together independently in the Nepalese context unless they join hands together.

“Political leaders should always be mindful of the fact that epoch-making changes, be that people's movement against Ranas, Panchayat or the Kings, was possible only when the communists and congress buried their differences,” he said, urging the parties to forge a working alliance while shading off their differences.

Representatives of Nepalese Diaspora in India also spoke on the occasion, urging the parties for reconciliation.

Meanwhile, Dhungana and Tuladhar are scheduled to interact with the members of Indian civil society. The duo are being invited by Indian journalist Anand Swarup Barma.