By IANS,
Raipu: President Pratibha Patil Friday called upon the Maoists to shun violence and enter into dialogue with the government to ensure development of tribal people.
“I call upon Maoists and those others who are engaged in violence to give up violence and have dialogue for peace and join the mainstream to ensure development for their tribal people,” she said in her address to a specially-convened session of the Chhattisgarh state assembly.
In the 20-minute speech in Hindi, Patil said: “In recent times, there were several unfortunate incidents of Maoist violence that claimed several lives. Now everyone has to remember that for the development of the country restoring peace, and then maintaining it, is very necessary. In fact, nothing can be gained by the path of violence.”
The president’s appeal to Maoists came amid rising Maoist violence in several states, mainly in Chhattisgarh, this month.
Maoists had carried out a string of attacks in the state’s restive but mineral-rich Bastar region and killed several state police and para-military troopers. They had also blown up an anti-landmine vehicle.
The rebels carried out their deadliest attack in the state in April 2010, killing 76 troopers in a single attack in Dantewada district.