Talks a red herring

But dialogue with Maoists still best bet

Maoists and the government find themselves in a catch-22 situation over their respective offers to hold ‘talks’. They are damned if they talk and damned if they don't. While the Union Home Minister had earlier offered to talk with the Maoists if they stopped violence for 72 hours, the rebels have now responded with offer for a 72-day ‘ceasefire’ if the government stopped the operation against them. Holding talks with underground Maoists would always be tricky because besides "talks" according legitimacy to a group sworn to overthrow the government, the government can never be sure if the ‘talks’ have the sanction of all the Maoists or only a section of them.

Nor is the agenda for talks clear. While the government would, in all probability, like to discuss the modalities for Maoists to disband their organisation and get back into the mainstream, it is safe to assume that the Maoists have no such thought in their mind. While talks, whenever possible, are desirable, the government clearly cannot allow the Maoists to hijack the agenda. But despite the suspicion that the Maoists find themselves in a corner and are playing out for time, the government must make an effort to engage them, if only to give peace a chance.

The Tribune, February 24