Chidambaram rejects Patnaik's claims on hostage crisis

Mar 21, 2012 |

New Delhi

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Home Minister P. Chidambaram on Wednesday rejected Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik claims that the Centre had not offered any help to the state in dealing with the abduction of two Italians by Maoists.

"I don't think the Chief Minister should be making these statements without any basis," Chidambaram told reporters when asked to comment on Patnaik's reported comments.

The Home Minister said that the Odisha Chief Minister had not sought any help from the Centre. "If he has actually said that, I am very disappointed. The Chief Minister spoke to me on Sunday, I offered him every help. He did not ask me for anything. He said I am just keeping you informed," Chidambaram said.

He said the Home Secretary had told him yesterday and today that he had spoken to the Odisha Chief Secretary twice and Director General of Police once to offer them any kind of help.

"But no specific request for help has been made until I left my office a few minutes ago," Chidambaram said.

Paolo Bosusco, a 54-year-old tourist guide, and Claudio Colangelo, a 61-year-old holidaymaker from Rome, were abducted on Wednesday in Odisha, in the first case of foreigners being kidnapped by left wing extremists.

The Maoists holding the Italians have issued a list of 13 demands which includes a ban on tourists visiting tribal areas, the end of the government's anti-rebel operations and the release of jailed Maoist leaders.

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