This Article is From Jan 30, 2010

Maoists set 'impossible' conditions for talks

Gaya: Jharkhand Chief Minister's Shibu Soren's love for Naxals needs no introduction. However, when he met Union Home Minister P Chidambaram, he promised that the action against Naxals would continue.

The Naxals of Jharkhand have now offered for talks, albeit with pre-conditions.

The CPI (Maoist) group wants to convey to Jharkahnd's CM their conditions for talks through the media.

The Naxals have come out with their 'PR exercise' after Jharkhand CM Shibu Soren announced that action against them would continue.

"We won't lay down our arms. We want the government to stop all operations. If the government agrees to these demands, we will go to the negotiating table," says Gopa, the spokesperson of the CPI (Maoist) Bihar and Jharkhand.

Following are the conditions mentioned in their letter offering talks:

  • Withdraw all the forces
  • Release all jailed Naxals
  • Drop all cases against Naxals

However, once we go through the letter, it is clear that this offer of talks is a mere formality. The conditions for talks are impossible for the government to meet.

And as attacks on schools in Jharkhand and Bihar continue, it is difficult to believe that the Maoists are serious about talks.

So it is anybody's guess whether talks between the Maoists and the government will ever take place.
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