We're ready for talks, Maoists tell Mamata Banerjee govt

The Maoists today said they would consider a proposal for talks with the Mamata Banerjee government if the chief minister spelled out her stand on junglemahal.

"Immediately after the swearing-in ceremony, Banerjee said she was ready to hold talks to sort out problems in junglemahal, but she did not speak about specific plans," West Bengal state committee members of Communist Party of India (Maoist) Bikram and Bikas said in a faxed statement in Kolkata.

"If she creates a favourable situation, we are ready to consider the proposal for joining talks," they said.

Hailing the chief minister's proposal to return 400 acre as promised at Singur to farmers, who unwillingly parted with their land for the Nano project, they said though she was defining problems in clear terms, "she is silent on the withdrawal of joint forces which was not only our demand, but her's too."

The statement said, "If she comes out with a definite plan on these issues we will consider a proposal for talks with the government."