Somewhere in Paschim Banga....

The mediators engaged by the Mamata Banerjee government to pave the way for talks with the Maoists have signed a joint statement with the rebels after two rounds of discussions. The Maoists have agreed to shun violence if the security forces stop all operations. The ceasefire offer from the Maoists is for a month, starting October 3. However, the government is yet to respond. The statement — the first to be signed by mediators Sujato Bhadra and Chhoton Das and CPI(Maoist) state secretary Akash — says the rebels are ready for a ceasefire if the state stops all operations and confines the security forces to their camps. “We give our word that we will shun violence and will not use arms if the government is sincere to its promise,” say the signatories. At the same time, the statement urges the government to disarm the “gangs backed by CPM and Trinamool Congress”. “During ceasefire, we assure we will not take up arms to confront these armed gangs. We’ll rather inform the government through the group of mediators with the expectation that the state will take action,” says Akash. The Maoists’ demand is nothing new. But the big difference is that the mediators have signed the statement. When asked why the interlocutors did so when they are supposed to liaise between the government and Maoists without taking sides, rights activist Sujato Bhadra said: “We have signed this statement to put the demands on record. The Maoists made these demands during the two rounds of discussion we had with them. We stand as guarantors to their demands by signing the statement. For, there have been occasions when promises have not been kept.” Bhadra said: “We are expecting a statement from the government.” It’s true that chief minister Mamata Banerjee has kept her doors open for talks, but she has made it very clear that violence and talks can’t go together. Even as she warned the Maoists of a crackdown, she also gave the goahead to the mediators to continue with the dialogue. While clarifying the demand for suspending operations by security forces, Bhadra said that the state has the “legitimate power” to inquire into the killings in Jangalmahal. “We don’t expect the state to sit tight in the event of a killing. The state will send police. But the security forces should not go on an overdrive, rounding up innocent people, as they did during the Left Front regime from 2009 to 2011,” Bhadra said. Chhoton Das, one of the interlocutors present at the meeting with Maoist leaders on September 30, said the talks were held in a “positive environment”. “The Maoists have taken a positive approach and promised not to take up arms to resist armed vigilante groups. We have successfully ended our initial job by convincing the rebels for a ceasefire. Now it’s upon the government,” said Das. Governor M K Narayanan had also expressed concern over the situation in Jangalmahal. With apprehension and mistrust looming large, chief minister Mamata Banerjee has a tough task ahead of her on the Maoist front.