The Odisha government rejected the choice of two mediators by the ultras and sought alternative names.
Maoists on Tuesday extended their deadline by 24 hours for meeting the 13-point demand for the release of the two abducted Italians, as the Odisha government rejected the choice of two mediators by the ultras and sought alternative names.
"The deadline is extended by another 24 hours," a senior party leader of the Odisha State Organising Committee of Maoists told a private television channel.
The Italians, Puri-based tour operator Paolo Bosusco and tourist Claudio Colangelo were abducted while trekking in Kandhamal district on March 14.
Objecting to the choice of Sanyal, a Maoist politburo member, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik told the Assembly that he has been convicted for life and was in jail for other offences.
"It is learnt that Narayan Sanyal has been convicted for life imprisonment in Ganj, Police Station Case no-44/07 in Chhattishgarh under section 124 (a) and 120 (b) of the IPC," Patnaik said in a statement.
"Sanyal has also been convicted for varying jail terms Sections 8(1), 8(3) and 8(5) of Chhattisgarh Special Public Security Act and Section 39 (2) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act," he said.
Therefore, it is not possible to accept him as a mediator in the discussion process, Patnaik said.
On the objection of Biswapriya Kanungo, another negotiator named by the Maoists, he said it was learnt from media reports that he was unwilling to do so.
The chief minister said that the state government had no objection to the participation of Dandapani Mohanty, a third negotiator named by Maoists.
"I, therefore, call upon the CPI (Maoist) leadership to suggest alternative names in place of Narayan Sanyal and Kanungo," Patnaik said.
"I urge the Maoists to give two alternative names as early as possible so that the negotiations can start immediately," he said.
Patnaik announced three negotiators to represent the state government-- Principal Secretary, Home Department, UN Behera, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Panchayatiraj Department, PK Jena and Secretary in ST and SC Department, SK Sarangi.
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