This is an archive article published on April 11, 2025
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On second letter from Maoists, Chhattisgarh govt response: ‘Ready for unconditional peace talks if they return to mainstream’
The latest letter comes days after Union Home Minister Amit Shah once again called on the rebels to lay down the rebels amid intensified operations in Bastar. The central government has set March 2026 as the deadline to root out Left-Wing Extremism.
Addressing a press conference he held Thursday, Sharma said the offer to hold peace talks should be “unconditional”. The letter, he said, speaks about a “peace committee” for negotiations but he was “unaware of such a thing”.
The Chhattisgarh government is ready to have unconditional peace talks with the outlawed Communist Party of India (Maoists) “if they want to return to the mainstream”, Chhattisgarh Home Minister Vijay Sharma said Thursday – two days after another purported letter from the red rebels asked the dispensation to halt its ongoing anti-insurgency operations in the state.
In a press release issued on April 8, the North-West Sub-Zonal Bureau of the CPI (Maoist) said that “while the party is not averse to peace negotiations, the current conditions in Bastar—marked by ongoing killings and security operations—make talks practically impossible”. This comes amid intensified anti-Maoist operations in the state.
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Addressing a press conference he held Thursday, Sharma said the offer to hold peace talks should be “unconditional”. The letter, he said, speaks about a “peace committee” for negotiations but he was “unaware of such a thing”.
“I want to ask them which committee? I am not aware of any such committee. If there is such a committee, I appeal to them to come forward for a discussion and I will guarantee your safety. We will not send any one to speak. You (Maoist) can make a committee or send an individual to us and we are ready to speak with a good rehabilitation policy,” he said.
When asked if these talks will be held only if they surrendered or gave up arms, he said: “What do you mean by discussion, I ask you. Is it to have chai, nashta (tea, breakfast)? No, it’s coming to the mainstream. We are not making any deals here. They can come and clear their doubts. What they are doing is unconstitutional. Our Constitution is democratic and people want you to follow the Constitution. So come to the mainstream and if you have any doubts on your rehabilitation or future or police cases, we are here to clear them.”
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He added: “I’m neither putting any conditions on them for peace talks nor do I want them to put forth any. We are ready for talks”.
In its April 8 letter, the outlaws said they were willing to have peace talks but that “the government has dismissed our conditions, making it unfeasible”. “Creating a favourable environment is the government’s responsibility if it truly wishes to end the bloodshed in Bastar,” the letter said.
The latest letter comes days after Union Home Minister Amit Shah once again called on the rebels to lay down the rebels amid intensified operations in Bastar. The central government has set March 2026 as the deadline to root out Left-Wing Extremism.
Addressing a press conference he held Thursday, Sharma said the offer to hold peace talks should be “unconditional”. The letter, he said, speaks about a “peace committee” for negotiations but he was “unaware of such a thing”.
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