Sri Ravi Shankar ready to mediate between Maoists-West Bengal govt

Art of Living (AOL) guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar today said he was ready to mediate between the Maoists and West Bengal government provided both sides agreed to the suggestion.

Referring to the killing of 24 Eastern Frontier Rifle jawans in a recent Maoist attack in West Bengal, he said it was a fallout of an atmosphere of mistrust as the militants did not believe the state government and vice versa.

"If both sides agree, we are ready to mediate to dispel this atmosphere of mistrust and we believe many Maoists can be persuaded to shun violence and return to the mainstream as many ULFA leaders did in recent times," Ravishankar told a press conference in Itanagar.

Pointing out that AOL workers had succeeded in making many militants, including Ulfa leaders in Assam and Maoists in Bihar, surrender and shun the path of violence through persuation in past, the spiritual leader said he was hopeful about results if the talks took place between two sides.

Ravishankar, who arrived here yesterday from Guwahati, said AOL runs 30 rural schools in Tripura and five in Bodo-dominated areas in Assam.

He has decided to open more rural schools in tribal areas of North Eastern states and plans to open 70 more schools in Tripura and 45 more in Bodo areas.