LD CHIDAMBARAM 2 LAST

Chidambaram said violence must be stopped and then
with the help of well-meaning people "we can find a way in
which the state governments primarily can talk to the groups
in that state and the Central government will afford any
assistance it can to facilitate such talks".

Referring to a statement issued by former Speaker of
Lower House of Indian Parliament (Lok Sabha) Rabi Ray and his
friends for a halt to violence and holding of talks, he said
he felt it was his duty to write to Ray making clear the
government's policy.
"Let me state it in carefully chosen words that if any
group abjures violence we are willing to talk to that group
about any genuine grievances.
"This is what the Prime Minister has said. This is
what I have said. We have not not asked them to do anything
more. We simply say halt the violence and then we can talk,"
the Minister said.
Hitting out at "intellectuals" who voice support for
the Maoists, he referred to the statement of Maoists earlier
this week that their objective of the attack on Sankhrail
police station in West Bengal (India's eastern state) was
weapons and money.
"Even after this statement, if people romanticise the
naxalites, all I can say is that only God can help them." PTI
MKR
ANU


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