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Kolkata: Faced with an impending crackdown by security forces, a top leader of the Maoists on Thursday said they were ready for talks with the Centre provided some of their conditions were met, including withdrawal of paramilitary forces deployed in Naxal-hit states.
Detailing the conditions, top Maoist leader Kishenji said the Centre would have to first withdraw paramilitary forces deployed in Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Orissa, Bihar, Jharkhand and parts of West Bengal. Secondly, the problems of tribals would have to be treated in a sympathetic way. “Also both the Centre and the state governments will have to apologise to the tribals for the prolonged torture meted out to them and the consequent suffering from the time of Independence,” Kishenji said.
Asked what should be the nature of the apology, Kishenji said, “They will have to come to the tribals and apologise.”
Asked about Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s statement on Wednesday in which he emphasised on change of ways of dealing with the tribals, Kishenji said, “It is nothing but an eyewash”. Kishenji said political leaders from the time of Independence have said the same thing, but done little.
“We want an end to it. If the government thinks that speaking about the people and their problems is waging war against the country, so be it,” he said.
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