Ready for talks if Naxals show faith in statute: Baghel
Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel on Saturday said that he was ready to hold dialogue with Maoists “on any platform”, provided they swore faith and allegiance to the Constitution.
Talking to reporters at Pratapgarh in Surguja district on the third day of his state-wide tour launched on May 4 to gather feedback from the people on the implementation of various programmes of his government, Mr Baghel said, “We are ready to talk with them on any platform. But, they (Naxals) first should express their faith in the Constitution of India.”
Responding to the state government’s proposal, the outlawed Communist Party of India (Maoists) has shown willingness to hold peace talks with the Bhupesh Baghel-led dispensation, but also set several conditions, including the release of their jailed leaders and withdrawal of security forces from strife-torn areas.However, a state minister said talks would be held, if any, only unconditionally.
This was the first time Mr Baghel made his stand clear on the Naxal issue after becoming chief minister in 2018.
Indicating that the influence of Maoists in the insurgency-hit Bastar in the state was on wane in the last several years, the chief minister said, “The schemes of the state government being run in the Naxal-affected areas are winning the hearts of tribal population. Now they are demanding to build roads and open security camps”.
In a statement purportedly issued by Maoists and circulating on social media since Friday, the outlaws questioned the chief minister’s “double standards” saying that on the one hand he offers to hold talks, while one the other hand air strike is allegedly being conducted (in Bastar).
The CM should clarify who gave permission for the recent aerial strike, the Maoists asked.
The two-page statement was issued in the name of Vikalp, a spokesperson of the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee of Maoists, which had been instrumental in executing several deadly attacks in south Bastar, including the Jhiram valley attack in Bastar district on May 25, 2013, in which top congress leaders were killed.