Bhubaneshwar:
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, on Tuesday evening, made a statement in the state assembly in which he has appealed to the Maoist abductors of the tribal BJD MLA Jhina Hikaka to extend the April 5 deadline and has also called upon Nachika Linga, the undisputed leader of the radical tribal outfit Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangh (CMAS) to come and discuss the issue of release of CMAS members now in jail urgently.
Mr Patnaik's open request to Nachika Linga to come and negotiate the release of CMAS members is a bit surprising because the audio message issued by Secretary of the Andhra Odisha Border Special Zonal Committee (AOBSZC) on Tuesday morning clearly said that they are opposed to the idea of engaging mediators to resolve the abduction issue and castigated the state government for delaying matters by insisting on appointing mediators.
The other surprising aspect is that the chief minister, who also holds the Home portfolio, has chosen to invite Nachika Linga for talks. Linga has been declared the 'most wanted' and 'fugitive' offender and branded as a hard core Maoist by the state police. There are over a dozen non-bailable charges against him including murder, sedition, arson, kidnap and criminal conspiracy.
The state government has named the same three bureaucrats who are talking to mediators in the Italian hostage issue as negotiators in the MLA abduction case. Although the Maoists are likely to respond to the chief minister's appeal by Wednesday, there is little chance that they would reverse their views on the issue of a negotiation.
The abducted MLA Jhina Hikaka had earlier written a letter to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik saying the government was not taking any interest in his release "because he is a tribal". In the hand-written note sent to the CM, the BJD MLA had also threatened to resign.
He also demanded the immediate release of "innocent tribals who have been branded as Maoists" and sent to jail.
The Maoists also hold Italian national Paolo Bosusco (54) hostage. The Puri-based Italian tour operator was abducted by the Maoists, along with compatriot Claudio Colangelo, while trekking in the dense forest and hilly areas of Kandhamal district on March 14. But the matter came to light through media only on March 17. Colangelo was, however, released on March 25 as a "goodwill gesture" by the Maoists.
On Monday evening, top Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda released an audio tape, warning of dire consequences if the state government did not pay heed to their demand for the release of political prisoners.
The ultras say the Italian's release would depend on the Odisha government's seriousness regarding their demands. Sources say back channel efforts were underway by the state government to free the Paolo.