Notwithstanding the recent resumption of Maoist violence in the State, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has given the go-ahead for talks with the ultras, to the group of interlocutors whom she had appointed for holding discussion. Bringing the “main stakeholders to the discussion-table with the government, is the main objective” civil rights activist Sujato Bhadra, who leads the group of interlocutors, said.
Talking to journalists after a meeting with the Chief Minister at the Secretariat on Friday, Mr. Bhadra said: “We have been invited for talks- ‘a group of six concerned citizens' will go soon to hold talks with the ‘main stakeholders - the armed opposition. A cease-fire by all parties was a crucial issue,” he said.
He said that the group which has already held two rounds of talks [presumably with the lower rung of the leadership] informed the government of the progress so far, and has now been given the go-ahead to sit with the ‘main stakeholders.'
“The three or four recent incidents has not influenced talks so far,” he said, adding that the citizen's group was “concerned at the recent developments [the escalation in violence after a lull since the elections], but felt their shadow could not cloud the talks.” He, however, noted that the government felt that the situation was now complicated.
To a question as to whether any solution was within sight, Mr. Bhadra evaded a direct reply saying that there were three to four major issues. “We have apprised the government on all these matters.” he said.
The major issues included restoration of peace, withdrawal of forces, and a bottoms-up approach to development [with everybody's participation]. The crucial issue of release of political prisoners was also linked with the entire matter, he said.
Ms. Banerjee had earlier said that she was appointing a citizen's group to hold talks (although she did not use the Maoists label then) as they were familiar with the issues and had gone there several times.
On the issue of political prisoners' release, while the Maoists have been demanding release of their comrades, the list of 52 political prisoners to be released by the government contains the names only two persons arrested by the previous government on suspicions of being a Maoist.
The new government has announced a development package for the 23 blocks, identified as Maoist strongholds, which lie along three adjacent districts on the State's western flank. Rehabilitation package for surrendering Maoists have also been announced by the Chief Minister. Following a meeting held with Chief Minister in end-July, Mr. Bhadra had said that the earlier air of mistrust between the government and the armed opposition did not exist anymore.
However, following the return of violence, there has been a hardening of the government stance with the Chief Minister speaking her mind on Thursday, saying that Maoists can talk but murder is a criminal offence.
