Govt not to accept any pre-condition for talks with Maoists: PC

"I would like no ifs, no buts and no conditions," Home Minister P Chidambaram said in a statement on Tuesday, a day after the CPI(Maoists) made a conditional ceasefire offer asking the Government to halt the offensive against them for 72 days and involve mediators for talks.

He said Government has seen many versions of a statement reportedly made by the leaders of the CPI (Maoist).

"In the absence of an authentic statement, Government is unable to respond to these versions," the statement said.

Nevertheless, in order to clear the air, the Home Minister said, "I would like a short, simple statement from the CPI (Maoist) saying 'We will abjure violence and we are prepared for talks'".

Chidambaram said he would like the statement to be faxed to Home Ministry number 011-23093155.

"Once I receive the statement, I shall consult the Prime Minister and other colleagues and respond promptly," he said.

On Monday night, top Maoist leader Kishenji told the media over phone from an undisclosed place that "state governments and the Centre should not indulge in violence between February 25 and May 7 and concentrate on development of tribal areas which will be reciprocated by Maoists".

He was responding to Chidamabaram's statement last week that if the Maoists halted violence for 72 hours, the government would be ready for talks with them.

Maoists offer 72-day ceasefire

The Maoists on Monday night made a conditional ceasefire offer asking the government to halt the offensive against them for 72 days and involve mediators for talks.

"State governments and the Centre should not indulge in violence between February 25 and May 7 and concentrate on development of tribal areas which will be reciprocrated by Maoists," top Maoist leader Kishenji said over phone from an undisclosed place on Monday night.

He was responding to Union Home minister P Chidamabaram's statement last week that if the Maoists halted violence for 72 hours the government would be ready for talks with them.

In New Delhi, a Union Home Ministry official said the Government was "studying" the Maoist offer and will come with a response at an "appropriate time".

Another official said if the offer is unconditional then the government may consider it.

Kishenji said "This is not a problem of 72 hours rather it can take 72 days to solve the problem."

Appealing to intellectuals and human rights organisations to come forward as mediators, he said "We appeal to all the intellectuals, human rights organisations and mass organisations, the organisations which understand the cause of the people and want to stand by their side to mediate with the government and negotiate with the government."

"As long as state sponsored terrorism and violence remains stopped we will renounce our revolutionary revenge," Kishenji said.

"We will cease violence hour wise and day wise considering the state's reciprocation. They will have to take the initiative first," Kishenji said after a two-day Central Committee meeting in deep jungles on the Bengal-Jharkhand border.

Home Secretary G K Pillai refused to comment but a spokesman of his ministry said the Government's reaction will be known on Tuesday.

Congress spokesman Abhishek Singhvi said Maoists can't have conditionalities attached which will make the whole ceasefire meaningless.

Singhvi also said "Distinction has to be made between those who practice violence for criminal acts and those who have to do some violence to combat that violence. Let us not equate these two kinds of violence."