The other day the nation witnessed yet another outlawed outfit signing a three-point peace agreement with the government. With this, no underground outfit has now existed in the country. The accord reached between the KP Sharma Oli-led government and Netra Bikram Chand Biplav-led Communist Party of Nepal has ensured that the Nepali people can now live without any fear of violence perpetrated by the underground group. Similarly, the security personnel would not have to spend time and energy tackling any more threats posed by the violent activities of the outlawed group.

The agreement has allowed the hundreds of the Biplav-led group's jailed cadres, including high ranking party stalwarts, to come out of prisons. It has also provided the group with an opportunity to join the mainstream politics. At the function held to sign the agreement on Friday, the Prime Minister precisely stated that the country had no outlawed group and it had entered a new era of peace after the accord with the Biplav-led outfit. According to him, the accord has allowed an opportunity for the underground group to have a safe landing. Biplav, also CPN general secretary, expressed commitment that his party would honour and abide by the agreement. The statements of the two key figures demonstrate the importance of the agreement at a time when the government is facing a testing time in the nation's politics.

The peace deal with the Biplav-led group is a second of its kind for the government. Earlier, the government had reached a similar agreement with the CK Raut-led outfit. The agreement with the Raut-led group has enabled the underground Terai-based outfit to join peaceful and mainstream politics. The new accord with the Biplav group has indeed boosted the image of the government in the eyes of the general people and intelligentsia. However, some people say that the Chand group was roped in for the accord to send a clear message to the feuding faction of the ruling party led by Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda and Madhav Kumar Nepal that the government could still work with other former revolutionaries. The ongoing conjectures over the latest accord notwithstanding, the government has indeed done a marvellous job in bringing the outlawed group, accused of perpetrating acts of violence, to the mainstream of politics by giving them a chance to make a safe landing.

On the other hand, the agreement has saved the nation from witnessing violent acts allowing the people to live and work in a peaceful environment. It appeared that the outlawed outfit, who was at the receiving end from the government forces, was quite willing to make such a safe landing. The accord has given a breather to the underground group to live in freedom without any fear or threats from the government forces. Biplav and his deputies should focus to capitalise on the accord for winning the hearts of the people, which in turn would bolster their position among the masses. While sincerely implementing the accord, the Biplav-led group should try to expand their politics based on the constitution that bears many inclusive and progressive provisions to usher the nation in an era of lasting peace, prosperity and happiness.