Chidambaram, Naxals swap phone numbers

Reacting to the Maoists truce call, Home Minister P Chidambaram on Tuesday said he would respond if the Maoists faxed him an authentic proposal in writing, agreeing to give up violence and with no pre-conditions for talks. Within hours, Maoists asked the Govt to set out its own proposal first. Aloke Tikku and Snigdhendu Bhattacharya report.

Reacting to the Maoists call for a 72-day truce, Home Minister P Chidambaram on Tuesday said he would respond promptly if the Maoists faxed him an authentic proposal in writing, agreeing to give up violence and with no pre-conditions for talks.

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Within hours, Maoist leader Koteshwar Rao alias Kishenji replied — as always using the media to send out his message — asking the government to set out its own proposal first, which it could publish as advertisements in newspapers. In his statement Chidambaram had a released a home ministry landline number to which, he said, the Maoists could fax their truce offer.

In response, Kishenji provided a mobile phone number that Chidambaram could call — at 5 pm, Thursday — if he wished to talk directly to the Maoists.

“I’d like no ifs, no buts, no conditions,” said Chidambaram in his reply, released to the media. “Once I get the statement, I’ll consult the PM and other colleagues and respond promptly.”

A home ministry official said the government’s perception was the Maoists weren’t really interested in a truce or talks. The ceasefire offer was only intended to dent the political legitimacy of the armed offensive against them.