Maoists ready for talks, call for ceasefire

Kolkata, June 23 (PTI) Facing offensive from security
forces at Lalgarh, Maoists Tuesday said they were ready for
talks with the Indian government and the state government, but
demanded ceasefire as a pre-condition for the negotiations.

"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," CPI
(Maoist) leader Sagar said in a statement.

However, the naxal leader said the meeting could be
possible only if the central para-military forces were
withdrawn immediately from Lalgarh and a ceasefire is declared
by the state police, outfit's spokesman Gour Chakraborty told
PTI.

Chakraborty said they were putting these conditions to
create an atmosphere of peace before the talks could take
place.

He said once the proposal for talks was mooted, the
CPI (Maoist) leaders would set the agenda before meeting
representatives of the Centre and eastern state West Bengal
Government.

A delegation of Kolkata-based intellectuals, including
film personality Aparna Sen, theatre artistes Kaushik Sen and
Saonli Mitra and poet Joy Goswami, visited Lalgarh on Sunday
and met PCPA leader Chhatradhar Mahato and villagers.

The delegation has urged both Maoists and the security
forces to exercise restraint and come to the negotiation
table. PTI