Didi’s olive branch to Maoists

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has resumed peace initiative with the Maoists by urging them to join the main stream.

“Give up guns, come back to mainstream life, our government will be with you as you are part of our democratic system,’’ Banerjee said referring to the Maoists on Friday as she revised a surrender package for them under the guidelines of the home ministry.

The chief minister said the extremists in other states who “surrender are doing well under various rehabilitation schemes”.

She also assured that the government’s initiative to release over 50 political prisoners “is already afoot and about 55 of them would be released soon”. The revised package announced on Friday is an 8-point rehabilitation programme and says: “The scheme is applicable to those Naxalites/ Maoists who would surrender with or without arms.”

However, the scheme would not be applicable for men who have already surrendered and are enjoying benefits under the existing scheme.