Open dialogue with Maoists: Lalu Prasad
By IANSThursday, April 15, 2010
NEW DELHI - Strongly opposing the government’s bullet-for-bullet policy to tackle Maoist insurgency in mineral rich central India, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Lalu Prasad Thursday advocated dialogue with leftist extremists.
Call an all party meeting. Stop this bullet for bullet policy. Open the dialogue channels, the former railway minister said, participating in a Lok Sabha debate over Maoist violence.
The debate took place nine days after Maoist guerrillas massacred 76 security personnel in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada district.
Lalu Prasad said it seems the people have stopped believing in the Gandhian philosophy of non-violence.
Violence cannot be curbed by violence, he said.
Addressing Sonia Gandhi, he said: Madam, lots of women have joined the Maoist movement.
The RJD leader said benefits of development needed to be taken to the grassroots level so that nobody feels left out.
