Ceasefire Maoists’ Precondition for Talks; Ban on CPI-M Applicable in WB

With offensive of securing forces going on in Lalgarh, Maoists have showed their preparedness to talks with the Centre and the state government setting ceasefire as a precondition for the negotiations. In the meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister has said that the Centre’s decision to ban CPI-Maoists extends to the state as well.

In a statement, CPI-Maoist leader Sagar said: “We are ready for talks with the Centre and West Bengal government if the intellectuals, who visited the troubled Lalgarh area last Sunday, arrange for a meeting.”

Nevertheless, outfit’s spokesperson Gour Chakraborty said that meeting, as per the remarks of their leader, is possible only if security forces were withdrawn out of Lalgarh and a ceasefire is declared. According to him, their preconditions are intended to create an atmosphere of peace before talks could take place.

Nevertheless, outfit’s spokesperson Gour Chakraborty said that meeting, as per the remarks of their leader, is possible only if security forces were withdrawn out of Lalgarh and a ceasefire is declared.

According to Chakraborty, their preconditions are intended to create an atmosphere of peace before talks could take place.

He also said that CPI-Maoist leaders would prepare the agenda prior to meeting representatives of the Centre and West Bengal government once the proposal for talks was mooted.

A delegation of Kolkata-based intellectuals visiting Lalgarh and meeting PCPA leader Chhatradhar Mahato and villagers already suggested that the security forces and Maoists come to the negotiating table. These persons included film personality Aparna Sen, theatre artistes Kaushik Sen and Saonli Mitra and poet Joy Goswami. The delegation

In the meantime, the state government has said that the ban on CPI-Maoist under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act was also applicable to the state.

“This act is applicable in the whole country. Thus, it is applicable in West Bengal,” chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee told reporters at the state secretariat after a cabinet meeting.

However, he said it was up to the state government to decide how it would implement the ban.

“It is up to us (state government) to decide how far we can go. Whom to arrest… this is our business,” Bhatacharjee said.

Union home minister P Chidambaram notified the ban on Monday saying: “It (CPI-Maoist) was always a terror organisation and today an ambiguity has been removed that it is a terror organisation.”