The Maoists on Sunday rejected West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s seven-day ultimatum to give up arms, and instead demanded the release of all its “political prisoners” and withdrawal of the joint forces from Jangalmahal
before any talks with the government. They also accused her of breaking the promises she had made before the Assembly election.
This must have been music to the ears of the state’s Marxists, who had been clamouring against Ms Banerjee’s U-turn on the Maoist menace.
The People’s Committee Against Police Atrocities, the Maoists’ front organisation, took strong exception to the seven-day ultimatum. Said PCPA spokesperson Ashok Jiban Kar: “First we demand withdrawal of security forces, then we want unconditional release of all prisoners and withdrawal of false cases.”
Some fresh Maoist posters were found in Salboni area of West Midnapore, in which Trinamul Congress workers were branded as the “jungle mafia”.
On Saturday, while speaking at Jhargram, the chief minister had said: “I am giving you (Maoists) seven days. If you want peace, negotiations can take place. But only if you give up your guns. I am not closing the door on peaceful negotiations, but murder and the peace process cannot go together.” She also branded them as “supari killers”.