‘Talks with Maoists on’

After a ninety minutes meeting with the Maoist interlocutors,which was also attended by some of the key ministers of her cabinet,the message sent across was that talks are still on the table.

“I can only let you know that dialogue process is on and will be continuing,” said Sujato Bhadra,one of the key interlocutors,after emerging out from the meeting.

He described the situation arising out of Mamata’s seven-day ultimatum to the Maoists as “complex” but added,“we have not been thrown out” to convey that the government is still open to the talks with the Left Wing Extremists.

Bhadra,however,refused to elaborate on how would they proceed with the talks in the present scenario.

Asked about the seven-day-deadline given by the chief minister to Maoists,Bhadra said,“It (the deadline) is not over and we have not discussed it.”

Sources said that the chief minister has asked the interlocutors to get a written statement from a Maoist central committee member that during the peace process,there will be no killing in Junglemahal and display of armed action.

The Maoists also have to ensure that they would not extort money from villagers and they would not threaten the villagers to join their meetings,sources added.

Among those who attended the meeting from government side besides the chief minister were Cabinet ministers Subroto Mukherjee,Partha Chatterjee,Purnendu Bose and chief secretary Samar Ghosh. Apart from Bhadra,Choton Das,Debasish Bhattacharya,Kalyan Rudra and Prasun Bhowmick attended the meeting from the interlocutors side.

Mahashweta blames govt for surge,says situation not conducive for talks

Noted writer and Magsaysay awardee Mahashweta Devi on Tuesday said the government should take responsibility of the latest violence in Junglemahal.

“The peace talk was initiated by the chief minister and I welcomed the initiative. But now,while the peace process is on,both the parties including the Maoists and the government forces are exchanging fire. In this situation,no dialogue can take place. Government should take the responsibility,” she said.

Demanding immediate withdrawal of joint forces from Junglemahal,the writer said: “Why should they (joint forces) stay there? What the people of Junglemahal have done? What lessons they are teaching to the tribal people there? And if the joint forces remain there,then I must say that nothing can be worse then this. We have seen Naxalite movement in our young days also. But these kind of forces were not deployed.”

She “reminded” Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to keep the pre-election “promises that she made to the people of Junglemahal”.

“I still believe that the Naxalite problem can only be resolved through dialogue. As far as the dialogue is concerned,it needs more time and all of us should have the patience,” added Devi.

Mahashweta Devi further objected to the resumptionof work at JSW steel plant in Salboni in West Midnapore. “The Jindals was given land illegally. These areas ae rich in minerals including mica,copper and iron. I do not know what the new government will do to the land in Salboni but the land should not be given to the Jindals,she added.