By IANS,
New Delhi: Home Minister P. Chidambaram Wednesday offered talks with insurgents, including Maoists guerrillas, with a rider that they should “suspend violence” first.
“Violence does not pay and violence will not pay. The state will not bend before anyone who uses violence as an instrument of policy to achieve political demands. That is why we tell them, suspend violence and come for talks and when you come for talks, you will be treated with dignity and honour. And we can resolve your political demands through talks,” Chidambaram said.
He was presenting a monthly report card of his ministry on a day he completed three years in the ministry.
“It applies to Maoists also. I have made this statement several times before and I make it again today as I complete three years. Even Maoists should suspend violence. We are not asking for more at this stage. Just say there will be no violence and my offer stands,” the home minister said.
He reiterated his two-year-old offer to Leftist guerrillas that if Maoists give up violence, “within 72 hours we will get back to them to fix the dates and venue for starting talks”.
“But they must suspend violence,” he said.
He rejected the allegations that Maoist commander Kishenji was killed in a staged shootout
“There are no doubts” that Kishenji was killed in a gun battle with security forces in West Bengal last week.
“Reports indicates that he was killed in a gun battle that started Nov 22 and concluded on Nov 23. We have no doubts about the encounter. He was killed in an encounter,” the minister said.