Chidambaram Asks Naxals to Abjure Violence

Ruling out any talks with Naxals till violence persists, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram has asked the rebels to abjure violence first.

“I have offered talks with Naxal groups provided they abjure violence,” he said in response to a question in Rajya Sabha.

“We can talk about any subject – development, infrastructure, governance – we can talk any subject provided the Naxals abjure violence. …but, as long as violence persists, I see no scope for talks,” he said.

The minister noted that some civil society groups had hinted to facilitate talks with rebels but no concrete proposal has come so far.

“We are willing to hold talks with Naxal groups, facilitate their talks with state governments. But the condition is they should formally abjure violence,” he said.

“I have said that if they abjure violence, I will respond within 72 hours.”

“There is no dialogue at the moment with Naxal groups,” he said.