The Hindu : Front Page : Ready for dialogue if government agrees to some of our demands: Maoists

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Tuesday, Jun 23, 2009
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Ready for dialogue if government agrees to some of our demands: Maoists

Raktima Bose

LALGARH (PASCHIM MEDINIPUR DT.): Keeping the option of dialogue with the West Bengal government on the Lalgarh issue open, Communist Party of India (Maoist) spokesperson Gour Chakraborty said on Monday that the organisation might also consider declaring a ceasefire in the area if the government cooperated with it.

The statement comes close on the heels of the Centre banning the organisation for the second time after 2004 and declaring it a terrorist outfit.

Speaking to The Hindu over telephone from an undisclosed location, Mr. Chakraborty said: “Our representatives will have a direct dialogue with the State government on the Lalgarh issue and we might also consider declaring ceasefire in the region. But the State government too has to relent and agree to some of our demands for the dialogue to happen.”

He added that the points raised by the group of intellectuals who visited Lalgarh on Sunday — to stop the joint operation of the Central paramilitary forces and the State police and not to harass common people — should also be considered by the State government.

Asked what would be the organisation’s course of action if the government decides to ban it on the lines of the Centre, Mr. Chakraborty said the outfit would continue its underground activities.

“The CPI(Maoist) has been a banned organisation for most of the time since its inception, yet we have carried on with our activities. Now that the ban is in place by the Centre’s order, we will have to take action according to the situation,” he said.

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