Union home minister P Chidambaram issued a stern rebuff to the Maoists on Tuesday, a day after the left insurgents offered a 72-day conditional ceasefire.
Union home minister P Chidambaram issued a stern rebuff to the Maoists on Tuesday, a day after the left insurgents offered a 72-day conditional ceasefire. “No ifs and buts and no conditions. Fax your statement to 011-23093155,” he said.
In a clear message that the government was not willing to yield an inch in the battle of nerves, the home minister asked the Maoist leaders to make a “short and simple” statement stating that “we abjure violence and we are prepared for talks”.
Sources in the home ministry said the view in the top security echelon is the 72-day conditional offer from the Maoists was a ploy to divert attention and aimed at utilising the interregnum, in the event of a ceasefire, to regroup.
Kishenji alias Koteswar Rao, the leader of the left rebels, said on Monday that they were willing to participate in a dialogue if the government suspended Operation Green Hunt. Kishenji had turned down the home minister’s request on Friday to halt violence for 72 hours.
Chidambaram, known for his strong views on the rebels and their supporters among the intelligentsia, also made it clear that the talks would be a long-drawn process.
“Once I receive the statement from the CPI (Maoist), I shall consult the prime minister and other colleagues,” he said.
The consultation mechanism mentioned by Chidmbaram also hints at taking the Maoist-affected states on board in the event of two sides agreeing to hold peace talks. “It will not be possible to start the peace process without the states’ participation. After all, they will also have to agree to the fundamentals of such a mechanism,” a ministry official said.
A section of the ministry and intelligence agency officials feel that the posturing on both sides could be a facade. “The possibility of something brewing behind the curtains cannot be ruled out as during the past few days significant change has been witnessed in the attitude of both the Maoists and the home ministry,” an official said.
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