Amid growing pre-poll bitterness and violence between major SPA constituents, the current row over the import of alleged arms threatens to increase the misunderstanding further. On Monday, a Maoist team led by central member Devendra Poudel seized three trucks at Shankarnagar in Rupandehi district that had entered Nepal from across the border, on the grounds that ‘arms had been imported in violation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement’. But the police freed the trucks by using force after the local administration declared the area as prohibited and imposed a curfew. The ensuing scuffles led to at least 25 people being injured. However, home ministry spokesperson has claimed that the trucks were just carrying logistical equipment meant for the Armed Police Force (APF). According to the Indian embassy, the materials, supplied at the request of the Nepal Government, included riot gear, tear gas shells and communication equipment the APF needed for boosting security during the election. The Maoists had been insisting that the trucks should first be checked in the presence of UNMIN officials and civil society members to find out the truth.

Whatever the truth, the way the trucks were brought in, apparently without knowledge of even SPA partners, and the way they were forcibly freed have, unsurprisingly, strengthened the impression of the doubters that the business was not straight. Just two weeks ahead of the election, this state of distrust is not a good thing. Questions of motive are being raised. But it would have been the right thing to satisfy the doubters, and the public too, as to what the trucks contained, who were supposed to use the contents, and that the consignments did not constitute a violation of the peace accord. The home ministry spokesman was right, in a way, in arguing that the Maoists should not have obstructed the road instead of trying other ways of inquiry. But there is another side to the issue. The Maoists, as one of the two parties to the accord, have a genuine concern about whether the other side is keeping its commitment on such a vital and sensitive matter as arms, just as a similar concern is fully justified the other way round.

Once the trucks have been taken to their destination, it may now be difficult to ascertain conclusively whether the home ministry claim was fully true. This mishandling of the situation has unnecessarily contributed to doubt and misunderstanding at a time when there is no dearth of negative speculation about the polls. There have been allegations even from several SPA constituents from time to time that the government leadership has often bypassed its duty of consulting and taking into confidence the alliance partners in important matters. What has been done cannot be undone now. But damage control can sincerely be attempted. There is no denying that the police forces must be equipped fully to provide effective security to make the election successful. But what needs to be stressed is the transparency of the process. The government must make its position clear in public and satisfy doubts. And such unpleasant incidents should not be allowed to recur.