Surkhet, March 9 Minister of Home Affairs Ram Bahadur Thapa today said the Netra Bikram Chand-led Nepal Communist Party was a criminal organisation. Stating that Chand’s activists had steppe up criminal and violent activities across the country, Thapa held that the government was able to maintain peace and order. Thapa, who came to participate at Far-west Province security meeting in Birendranagar Surkhet, argued that it was not a big deal for the government to sabotage Chand’a activities. Talking to the journalists in Birendranagar, Thapa reiterated that the government was capable of checking Chand’s activities as it was in the stage of expanding its organisation. Meanwhile, addressing the Far-west Province security meeting in Birendranagar, Minister Thapa pledged that the government would act tough against anybody who posed challenge to national security. He, however, said that government was ready to sit for talks for peaceful solution. Further, Thapa said that the government had laid the foundation for prosperity and development. “In one year, we have improved international relations, implemented federalism, and expedited development activities,” Thapa added. According to a security officer participating in the security meeting, most of the participants stressed the need to control activities of Chand-led party.