No proposal to talk directly with Naxals, says Govt

The Centre on Wednesday said there was no proposal to hold direct talks with Naxals but it would welcome such a dialogue between the Left wing extremists and any state government.

The Centre on Wednesday said there was no proposal to hold direct talks with Naxals but it would welcome such a dialogue between the Left wing extremists and any state government.

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"There is no proposal for the Central Government to hold talks directly with the Left wing extremists," Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Ajay Maken told Rajya Sabha on Wedneday.

"State Governments have, from time to time, appealed to the Left wing extremists to abjure violence and hold talks with the government on any issues that are of concern to them...," he said.

The Minister said the Central Government does not have any information whether any state government is now engaged in any talks with the Left wing extremists.

"As far as the Central Government is concerned, it will welcome such talks between state governments and Left wing extremists provided Left wing extremists abjure violence and give up their so-called 'armed struggle'," Maken said.

"...the Left Wing Extremist groups, particularly, the CPI (Maoist) maintain fraternal links with communist parties of several countries. Government is maintaining a close watch on the situation and takes appropriate action as are necessary," the Minister said in reply to another question in Rajya Sabha.