The cloud of uncertainty over release of two abducted Italians — Bausco Paolo and Claudio Colangelo — persisted on Tuesday as the government and rebels could not decide upon the names of the interlocutors.
On Monday evening, the Maoists had proposed the names of Naxal sympathiser Dandapani Mohanty, human rights activist Biswapriya Kanungo and Communist Party of India (Maoist) central politburo member Narayan Sanyal to mediate talks with the government.
However, Biswapriya Kanungo, a senior advocate and human rights activist, said he could not negotiate with the state government only on behalf of the rebels as their representative. He clarified that he might take a decision if the state government also nominate him as its representative.
“Neither the state government nor the rebels have asked me to negotiate. If both the sides approach me for negotiation and commit to accept the outcome of the discussion, I may consider my participation,” Mr Kanungo told reporters.
The chief minister, while making a statement in the Assembly, said it was not possible on the part of his government to accept Narayan Sanyal as an interlocutor since he was convicted for life imprisonment in Ganj police station case No 44/07 in Chhattisgarh. He also stated that Biswapriya Kanungo was not willing to participate in the discussion.
“There is no objection to the participation of Dandapani Mohanty in the discussion process. I, therefore, call upon the CPI (Maoist) leadership to suggest alternative names in place of Narayan Sanyal and Biswapriya Kanungo,” he said. The chief minister announced that state home secretary Upendra Nath Behera, panchayati raj secretary Pradip Jena and Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe secretary Santosh Sarangi will hold discussions as state government representatives with the interlocutors nominated by the rebels.
However, later the rebels — in response to the chief minister’s suggestion — proposed names of social activists Prafulla Samantara and B.D. Sharma — as alternative persons to Narayan Sanyal and Biswapriya Kanungo hold talks with the state government.
However, Prafulla Samantara declined to mediate saying, “When the state government has no faith in the work I have been doing all these years, I don’t believe they will accept me as negotiator.” The rebels, meanwhile, on Tuesday evening extended deadline for fulfillment of their demands by another 24 hours.