Chhattisgarh chief minister Raman Singh on Saturday dropped broad hints of taking the initiative to start a fresh peace talks with Maoists, even as eminent social activist Swami Agnivesh said, “Time is now ripe for resolving the age-old Naxal problem”.
“I will set in motion the process for fresh peace talks with Naxals shortly. I plan to hold discussions with the chief ministers of all Naxal-infested states on the issue, and then move Union home minister P. Chidambaram to prepare the ground for a peace dialogue with the rebels,” Mr Singh told reporters while sharing for the first time the dais with Swami Agnivesh at a media conference here.
He also unilaterally declared a 72-hour-ceasefire from March one to lay the ground for initiating the peace process.
“We will welcome any peace initiative and not hesitate to take it forward if the Central government and other Naxal-affected states and Maoists come forward for a meaningful dialogue as talks was the only option to resolve the problem of Naxalism,” he said responding to offer by Swami Agnivesh to mediate in the peace negotiations.
Significantly, Mr Singh’s declaration to make peace with Naxals was a sharp departure to his earlier stand of taking tough action against the rebels.
Swami Agnivesh, who played a key role in securing safe release of five abducted Chhattisgarh policemen from Maoist captivity on Friday, said this was the first time the Naxals demonstrated their humanitarian gestures by unconditionally letting off the hostage cops.
“The time is ripe for initiation of a fresh peace talks as the safe release of the abducted cops by Naxals in Chhattisgarh has created a very conducive atmosphere for this,” he said.