Maoists should follow home ministry procedures for talks: CPI(M)

With Maoist leader Kishenji calling for a dialogue with the Centre, West Bengal's ruling Left Front major CPI(M) today said he should follow procedures set by the Union home ministry for the matter.

"The Union home ministry has set some procedures for the talks. If an environment for dialogue is to be created, let (the Maoists) appeal to the Centre as per the procedures. No dialogue can be held in thin air," CPI(M) state secretary Biman Bose told newsmen here.

According to a section of the media, Kishenji has named noted writer-activist Arundhati Roy and Trinamool Congress MP Kabir Suman as his choice as interlocutors for the talks.

A section of eminent personalities led by Magsaysay Award-winning writer Mahasweta Devi has appealed to Union home
minister P Chidambaram for immediate halt of anti-Maoist operations in Lalgarh, saying that a ceasefire by all parties
and talks were necessary.

Yesterday, Kishenji had said the Maoists were in a position to overthrow the Indian state much before 2050, a day after Union Home Secretary G K Pillai made public that the ultras with their army were planning to overthrow the government by that year.