BHUBANESWAR: In an important development, the Visthapan Virodhi Janmanch on Saturday said they were ready to hold talks with the State Government about the ongoing road blockade at Kalinga Nagar in Jajpur district.

"We are prepared to discuss with the State Government at the highest political level. The Government will have to be sincere in such talks. We expect that the Government shall call us for talks soon," secretary of the Janmanch Rabindra Jarika said in the two-page letter addressed to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

Stating that the Janmanch was ready to hold the discussion in the wake of the recent High Court order, Mr. Jarika said the Government should give them at least seven days before holding the meeting on the issue.

Government blamed

The Janmanch, which has been spearheading the anti-displacement agitation of the tribals since 13 persons were killed in police firing on January 2 last year, however, blamed the Government for "not continuing the discussion that was initiated in May last year".

The Janmanch leader alleged that the administration had not bothered to fulfil their demands .

In its order passed on January 5, a Division Bench of the High Court had directed the authorities to remove the blockade from national highway No. 200 at Kalinga Nagar. "The administration should take effective steps for removal of the blockade over the said highway immediately," the court had said. Referring to the court order, Mr. Jarika expressed the hope that meaningful and sincere discussion on the issue could lead to an appropriate settlement of the problem.

Observing that the Janmanch was continuing with the agitation to compel the Government to consider their demands appropriately for protection of their lives and livelihood, Mr. Jarika said that use of force and any other action to remove the blockade would be `undemocratic and complicate the matter'.

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