Cease offensive, start unconditional talks with Naxals: Activist

A group of activists led by former Supreme Court judge PB Sawant today appealed to the government to cease armed offensive in Naxal-affected states and demanded unconditional talks between authorities and Maoists to find a solution.

Addressing a meeting here, Sawant said many in the country were not aware of the "very serious consequences" which would follow if the government moves ahead with the "onslaught".

"The attack is not on the so-called Maoists but it is an attack on people who are fighting for their democratic process," he said at a seminar organised by Citizens Initiative for Peace, which is demanding unconditional talks between both the parties.

He said it was difficult to convince those who believe in armed revolution that they can use democratic means to achieve their goals as the "experience of the past 60 years is contrary to (what a democracy should do)".

Sawant alleged that the government has "miserably failed" to deliver for the poor people in the country.

"Last so many years have proved that the power given by people to their elected representatives has been used against their interests and for the benefit for a few," he said.

Sawant was of the view that the it was not right on the part of the government to "attack" people when they stand up and fight for their justice.

RTI activist Aruna Roy alleged the offensive against Maoists across the country is actually meant to plunder the vast resources in the forests.

"Today, the government is going on an offensive against Maoists. Tomorrow, it will be against someone else," she said.

She claimed that people took to arms only because their voices were not heard. "They were forced to take arms as their voices were not strong enough to make the government hear," Roy said.

Himanshu Kumar, an activist working in Chhattisgarh's Naxal-affected Dantewada area, claimed that Maoists reached out to many areas where the government did not.

He alleged that the forces were harassing "innocent tribals" who were trapped in the jungle.