In what is seen as a hardening stance of the government towards the opposition, Home Minister Kamal Thapa has accused the seven party opposition alliance of trying to create anarchy in the country in collaboration with the Maoist rebels.

Addressing a conference of party cadres of central region of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) faction led by him in the capital on Friday, Minister Thapa accused that the opposition were aiding to increase violence in the country by joining hands with the rebels.

“The government would not let it happen at any cost,” he declared.

Saying that His Majesty the King was in favour of holding talks with all political forces in the country, the interior minister blamed what he called the “stubborn demands” of the agitating political parties for failure in holding talks. He urged the partied to sit in talks with the king to find peaceful solution to the crisis.

“The government was ready to hold talks with the rebels if they were really willing for dialogue,” he added.

Addressing the same function, vice chairman of the RPP (Thapa), Padma Sundar Lawati, accused that Nepal’s southern neighbour, India, was responsible for intensifying the armed conflict in Nepal. He said conflict in Nepal would not subside “unless India stops supply of arms to the rebels.”

India terms Nepali Maoists as “terrorists” and says they pose a threat to its national security. But critics allege that India has not taken keen interest to curb the activities of Nepali Maoists in its territory.