KOLKATA:The Maoists Tuesday announced they were prepared to hold arms for a month if the West Bengal government halted the joint security forces’ operation to build a congenial atmosphere for dialogue.
“We are prepared to restrain arms for a month if there is no joint security forces’ operation in Junglemahal (Maoist-hit forested stretches of West Midnapore, Purulia and Bankura districts),” said a joint statement signed by Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) state committee spokesman Akash and two government-appointed interlocutors Sujato Bhadra and Choton Das.
The statement was given Friday after lengthy talks between CPI-Maoist leaders and the interlocutors.
“We are in favour of peace. If the state government promises to stop the joint operation for a month and implements it in letter and spirit, we will also announce the month-long ceasefire and carry it out in letter and spirit,” it said.
Das told IANS that the missive also called for disarming the anti-Maoist armed groups and asked the government to take the responsibility.
“If these groups carry out attacks, we will talk to the interlocutors for the government to take steps to stop such attacks.
Through this, we hope a congenial atmosphere will be created for a dialogue,” he said quoting the letter.
Das said though the left-wing extremists have given the proposal unilaterally, the government needs to do its bit by stopping the joint forces operation for the proposal to take effect.
“The ball is now in the government’s court,” Das said.
The letter signed Sep 30 was embargoed till Oct 3. “We have released it to the media today (Tuesday) after the embargo got over,” he added.
The joint statement comes days after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee issued a stern warning saying the guerrillas would have to decide whether they wanted talks or would continue their politics of killing.
“Who has given you the right to kill? If you want to sit for negotiations, do so. But you cannot have both. You have to choose one,” she said after a series of fresh killings in the Junglemahal area.(Agencies)
