A leader of India’s Maoist rebels has said they are ready to begin talks with the government if at least four of their top leaders are released from prison, BBC online reports Wednesday.
Koteswara Rao was reacting to federal home minister P Chidambaram’s offer to rebels of “once last chance” to open talks.
The rebels are fighting for communist rule in many Indian states. More than 6.000 people have died during the rebels 20-year fight.
– The (military) offensive which is causing huge misery for the poor and the tribals in several Indian states must stop. You can not talk to us by holding a gun to our head, Mr Rao said.
Nearly 50.000 federal paramilitary troops are joining an equal number of policemen, to be equipped with helicopters and unmanned aerial surveillance vehic-les, to take on the rebels.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has described the Maoists as the “country’s biggest internal security challenge”. The rebels have a presence in more than 223 of India’s 600-odd districts across 20 states, according to the government.
