Ready for talks if security operations halted: Maoists

KOLKATA - The Maoists Monday said they were game for a dialogue if the government halted all security operations against them for 72 days - from Feb 25 to May 7.

“We will halt our revolutionary counter-terrorism and counter-violence activities for the same number of days and hours that the government halts state terror and state violence against us,” Maoist leader Koteshwar Rao alias Kishenji said in a statement.

“If the government halts state terror against us for 72 days from Feb 25 to May 7, then we are prepared to hold talks during this period,” Kishenji said.

Kishenji appealed to intellectuals to come forward and broker the talks.