Kolkata, Feb. 22: The Maoists on Monday offered a conditional ceasefire, asking the government to halt the offensive against them for 72 days — from February 25 to May 7.
Speaking to this newspaper late on Monday evening, CPI(Maoist) politburo member Kishenji, alias Koteswara Rao, said, "We are ready to hold talks with the Centre only if the joint operation against us is halted for 72 days." He did not speak of laying down arms
The Maoists also want "intellectuals and human rights organisations" to mediate between them and the government during the talks, if any. "We are willing to hold talks keeping in mind the development of the poor tribals," Kishenji said. He kept reiterating that the talks could be held only if the Centre "took the initiative and stopped the joint operations for 72 days". Union Home Secretary G.K. Pillai refused to comment since this was "merely a media report".
A section, however, felt the Maoists were asking for a 72-day ceasefire in a bid to regroup since the government has stepped up pressure and intensified its operations against the ultras.
Speaking to this newspaper, Kishenji, however, wanted "intellectuals" to mediate between them and the government. "We are ready for talks through intellectuals and the human rights organisations that have been fighting for the cause of the common people," he said. He, however, targeted the President’s address to the joint session of Parliament on Monday. President Pratibha Patil had described the Maoist attack on the Eastern Frontier jawans as a "cowardly act". Kishenji said that during the "past one year the Central paramilitary forces have made life miserable for innocent villagers in the states of Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Orissa, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh". He claimed the joint operation has claimed the lives of 400 "revolutionaries" and villagers in the last one year.
Monalisa Chaudhuri