Govt not to accept any pre-condition for talks with Maoists

Responding to the ceasefire offer by Maoists, the government today made it clear that it will not accept any pre-conditions for talks with "ifs and buts" and asked the militants to come out with a simple statement saying they will abjure violence.

"I would like no ifs, no buts and no conditions," Home Minister P Chidambaram said in a statement, a day after the CPI(Maoists) made a conditional ceasefire offer asking the Government to halt the offensive against them for 72 days and involve mediators for talks.

He said the government has seen many versions of a statement reportedly made by the leaders of the CPI (Maoist). "In the absence of an authentic statement, Government is unable to respond to these versions," the statement said.

Nevertheless, in order to clear the air, the Home Minister said, "I would like a short, simple statement from the CPI (Maoist) saying 'We will abjure violence and we are prepared for talks'".

Chidambaram said he would like the statement to be faxed to the Home Ministry number 011-23093155.

"Once I receive the statement, I shall consult the Prime Minister and other colleagues and respond promptly," he said.

Last night, top Maoist leader Kishenji told the media over phone from an undisclosed place that "state governments and the Centre should not indulge in violence between February 25 and May 7 and concentrate on development of tribal areas which will be reciprocated by Maoists".

He was responding to Chidamabaram's statement last week that if the Maoists halted violence for 72 hours, the government would be ready for talks with them.