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.