New Delhi, May 26: Home minister P Chidambaram’s offer letter to some civil society members for initiating a dialogue with Maoists has already been dispatched to their leaders.
The leaders, operating from inaccessible areas in over half-a-dozen Maoist-affected states, will soon hold a meeting to consider Chidambaram’s offer of a simultaneous ceasefire by the left wing insurgents at an agreed date and time.
“His letter has mentioned a minimum period [of 72 hours] for abjuring violence without seeking surrender of arms,” noted social activist Swami Agnivesh, who is spearheading this peace effort, said.
The process to begin the “peace talks” can take a fortnight to a month as holding a meeting of Maoist leaders at such a short notice is difficult given the fact that they are located in far off places, he said.
As soon as Maoists accept the invitation, the home minister would convene a meeting of the chief ministers of the Maoist-affected states. The modalities for the ceasefire would be finalised in that meeting with the consent of the chief ministers, ministry sources said. It would take about a week to 10 days to prepare for the ceasefire once the offer is accepted.
The civil society members would stay away once the dialogue starts. “Our job is only to bring the two sides on the table. If either party feels the need for our presence, we can enter the arena,” Agnivesh said.
—Agencies