Kolkata: Maoist leader Kishenji today said
his outfit was ready for talks with the Centre and demanded
the release of his close aide Venkataswar Reddy, who was
arrested from the southern fringes of the metropolis.
Demanding immediate and unconditional release of
Reddy alias Telegu Dipak along and all other arrested Maoist
leaders he said, "We are ready for talks with the government
which has not responded so far."
Dipak was remanded in police custody for 14 days by a
city court today.
Claiming that Union Home Minister P Chidambaram was
not interested in holding talks, Kishenji said both sides
should sit for dialogue while ensuring that there was no
state-sponsored terrorism and revenge tactics.
"On the date proposed for talks, the joint forces shot
dead People`s Committee against Police Atrocities president
Lalmohan Tudu. It proves that Chidambaram is not keen on
discussions with us. His proposals for talks are all eyewash,"
he claimed.
Tudu was shot dead near Kantapahari in West Midnapore
district on February 26 in an alleged encounter with the joint
forces.
-PTI
