India shows willingness to start talks with Maoists

The government yesterday indicated its willingness to start the process of dialogue with Maoists but said such exercise would not be fruitful till they abjure violence.
Home Secretary G K Pillai said if the Maoists abjure violence, there was a possibility for dialogue and operation by the government against them was not really a problem.
"We have taken up (the issue). Home Minister (P Chidambaram) has written to (former Lok Sabha Speaker) Rabi Ray. He said please start. We got some reply. Some dialogue, some process is starting. Let us see. But unless they give up violence I don't think it is possible to talk," he said addressing a conference organised by South Asian Free Media Association.
Ray, along with other prominent members of civil society had urged the government to begin a dialogue with the Naxals and stop the offensive against them.

Making clear the government's position that it has not asked the Maoists to lay down arms, the Home Secretary said it was just asking the Naxals to abjure violence because a dialogue cannot be held when one side keeps resorting to violence.
"So, if the Maoist say that they will abjure violence, and start dialogue, definitely the operations will not go on," he said, adding, "But I know, as of on Sunday, the Maoists are not willing to abjure violence under any circumstances whatsoever".