While the government is blowing it's trumpet about dramatic improvements in the country's peace and security situation since 1 February, the Maoist have stepped up ruthless attacks across the country and even coordinated attacks in India.

Recent Maoist attacks in Khotang, Bardiya, Bhojpur, Ghartichap, Sinduli, Siraha, Arghakhanchi and other places show the hollowness of the government's claims.

After February First and the sidelining of the centrist parties, palace extremism and Maoist extremism have intensified. This polarisation between republicanism and royalism is leading to a prolongation of war. The brutality of the killings like Madi and Kailali makes us wonder whether the two warring sides are just out to defame each other by massacring civilians.

If, as is being publicised, it is indeed true that the Nepali Maoists ganged up with the Indian Maoists to carry out a joint attack in India then things can only grow worse. For India, which has been patiently waiting for a premise to intervene in Nepal, the Bihar incident can become a strong motivation. The current government, rather than trying to find out the truth behind the Maoist involvement in the recent attack in India seems to be busy assessing this incident as a pleasant opportunity to convince India to resume the supply of military hardware that had been stalled following the royal takeover.

Should it indeed be established that the Bihar incident was a joint-operation of Indian and Nepali Maoists then, more than the Maoists, it will affect the ruling class of Nepal. Despots everywhere keep making the same mistake of using war as a protective shield.