Zeenews Bureau
Kolkata: Maoist top leader Koteshwar Rao alias Kishenji on Friday admitted to beheading inspector Induwar, but did not show any remorse for the heinous act.
He however agreed for conditional talks with the West Bengal government.
''We are ready for a discussion but the government
should first declare ceasefire followed by us,'' Maoist leader
Kishenji told from an undisclosed location.
''The government will also have to unconditionally
release all the prisoners they have arrested from the time
when the joint operation started in June this year,'' Kishenji
said.
''The arrests are unethical, illegal and undemocratic.
This is the primary condition from where the process of
negotiation can start,'' he said.
Next, the government would have to form a "people's
committee" which would comprise representatives from the
Maoist side and the government. The committee would form a
common agenda on which there could be discussion, Kishenji
said.
Asked if the government insists on laying down arms by
them, Kishenji said "we have always considered the state to be
an oppressive force and so long as there will be arms in the
hands of the state, we will continue our arms struggle. So,
the question of laying down of arms doesn't arise".
For the first time in 11 months
since the tribal movement began in Lalgarh, the Maoists have agreed to come to the table for talks.
First Published: Saturday, October 10, 2009, 11:04