Kolkata: Rejecting Mamata Banerjee's call
to lay down arms before talks, elusive Maoist leader Kishenji
on Monday said the Trinamool Congress chief is "welcome without
the police".
"If you want to come to Jungle Mahal for talks without
bringing the police you are always welcome," Kishenji said in
an open letter to the Trinamool leader, who on January 15 at
Jhargram had given Maoists seven days ultimatum to hold talks
or she would go on padayatras in Naxal-hit areas.
On her demand that Maoists give up arms before talks,
Kishenji disagreed saying "If the Central government or a
political party gives a proposal to lay down arms and sit for
talks that is not possible. Giving up arms is not on our
agenda."
Addressing the TC supremo as 'didi'(sister), he said
"no talks are possible within the agenda of UPA or the TC
policy. You need to adopt a new agenda so that Maoists can
speak to you."
Apparently referring to Banerjee's plea that she was
making the request with folded hands and was even willing to
touch their feet, he accused her of following a carrot and
stick policy.
"First you accused us and then tried to pacify us
which is not right," the Maoist leader said.
Asserting that the movement in Nandigram against SEZs
by Maoists had shown the path to farmers and workers, Kishenji
said "We want to continue our movement in that way."
He said if her agenda was to speak to the people of
the area, "help the people in agriculture and ensure that they
can get their daily meal."
Stating that there were 24 hospitals constructed with
the 'people's money' in Jungle Mahal comprising West
Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia districts, he claimed that the
joint forces on anti-Maoist operations were not allowing them
to function.
"Ensure that these hospitals function. "We have given
our agenda. We urge you to give your agenda so that we can sit
for talks. We are ready for talks, but we need your goodwill
and gesture," Kishenji said.
PTI
First Published: Monday, January 25, 2010, 17:29