Will consider Maoist ceasefire offer, says government
By IANSMonday, February 22, 2010
NEW DELHI - The government Monday said it was willing to consider the offer of ceasefire by the Maoists as long as it is without preconditions.
“We will consider the offer but it has to be without preconditions,” said Home Secretary G.K. Pillai.
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.
Sources in the home ministry, however, said this could possibly be a delaying tactic because they want the Maoist rebels to abjure violence before initiating any talks.
Earlier, in an exclusive interview to IANS, Kishenji, the Maoist leader who announced the ceasefire, had said that “if they (security forces) begin their operations, I promise you 2010 will get bloodier. There will be no respite from violence”.
Home ministry officials said that they will have to “wait and watch”.
