To what extent Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba really thought the Maoist problem could be resolved through a dialogue was revealed in the meeting of the Nepali Congress' Central Working Committee held last Sunday and Monday. Most people attending the meetings, including party president Girija Prasad Koirala, realised that Deuba was not himself and was acting in an unusual manner. The discussion centred on the fact that the Maoists should be called terrorists and that it was absolutely necessary to impose an emergency. During Monday's meeting Koirala said the Maoists had proved that they were, in fact, terrorists and should be labelled as such. He further said that though party members had been correct in calling them terrorists right from the start, the party and government should still leave the door open for dialogue. On hearing this, Deuba lost his temper and exploded. He shouted, "Now no dialogue will take place with the Maoists. They are terrorists. I was never in favour of a dialogue with them, and I shall never be."

The minute he said this, many people had to try and control their laughter. They reminded Deuba that he was the person always in favour of dialogue. Deuba retorted that he had never believed the matter could be resolved through dialogue. He further said, "Kishunji trapped me. He asked me to form all sorts of committees for dialogue. He set me up. I was never for a dialogue, and I will never be in favour of it. Now there must be no dialogue with them. It is completely unnecessary to leave the door open for talks with them."

Most members took this outburst as a sign of Deuba's mental weakness and inability to get things done. A few days earlier Deuba had said that the fourth round of talks should go ahead. In fact, before all this, if anyone were to say anything against the Maoists, Deuba would spring to their defence, as if they were his long-lost brothers. He would not tolerate any criticism of them. He always believed dialogue would lead to a solution, but the Maoists blew up this belief of his in a flash. This is why he was very angry and saddened at the turn of events, and said that there was no room for dialogue anymore and that he had never believed in negotiations with them.