Feb.24 : The Maoists have offered a 72-day truce during which time they want to hold talks with the government through mediators like intellectuals and human rights activists. There has been a mixed reaction to this offer. Within 24 hours, Union home minister P. Chidambaram has said they should fax a written statement and even provided a fax number. He added that they should abjure violence and that there should be no pre-conditions.

The Naxalites have demanded that there should be a halt to all operations by security forces in West Bengal, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Orissa. The ministry of home affairs (MHA) also said there would be no talks with the Naxalites and that they were only saying this to create confusion. The MHA reiterated that the operations would continue. The ball is now in the court of the Maoists. They will have to prove, in a manner more concrete than just words, and through the proper channels, that they are sincere about the truce offer. There are suspicions that the Maoists are feeling the heat of Operation Green Hunt, particularly after they massacred Eastern Frontier Rifles personnel at Silda in West Bengal. Their action was condemned by intellectuals and human rights organisations. Besides, does CPI (Maoist) politburo member Koteswara Rao, or Kishenji as he is referred to, have the authority to make such an offer? He is only a politburo member restricted to the eastern region. The top boss of the CPI (Maoist), Ganapathy, has been silent on this offer. The government cannot be faulted for being suspicious since this is not the first time that the Maoists have offered a truce. They had offered a truce in Andhra Pradesh, which was accepted by the then chief minister, Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy, but he was let down. There is also another view, that the Maoists could be trying to buy time to regroup and rearm. The 72-day truce period they have sought coincides with the summer season and ends with the beginning of the monsoon, when the forests are lush and provide ample cover. It is trickier for the government, which will face harsh criticism if there are killings during a ceasefire. The Indian security forces did not go into the jungles without reason. In recent times the Maoists have killed more than 300 ordinary people and, in this year alone, 125 people have been slain in police/Army action and Naxalite violence. The Maoists have their side of the story which, simply put, is about protecting the tribals. In fact they have been running a parallel government along what can be called a Maoist corridor that runs from West Bengal to Bihar, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh and down to Andhra Pradesh. This is also India’s wealthiest mineral belt, which is being eyed by the government and by foreign and Indian mining interests. The lands in these areas are occupied by tribals and they don’t want to leave unless there is something for them in the so-called development of these lands. Tribals and the landless throughout India are sought to be deprived of their lands for development in the form of SEZs, power plants etc. Even the Salva Judum movement in Chhattisgarh has degenerated into a land grab movement by the government and there are instances of tribals being driven out of their homes so that the government can go ahead with its aggressive industrialisation programme. Many in government are aware of the havoc that has been caused by aggressive industrialisation and there have been sane voices warning against the repercussions. At some point there has to be a dialogue between the government and the tribals and landless. When it occurs, the government should go beyond mouthing the mantra of inclusive growth. In this context, the talks offer from the Maoists could be considered by the government within the parameters of security demands.