Government open to direct talks with Maoists, not mediated ones, says home minister Vijay Sharma

RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh deputy CM and home minister Vijay Sharma has rejected Maoists’ fifth call for talks, stating unequivocally that the state is open to unconditional talks with Maoists -- but not with intermediaries or institutions who “have never stood with people of Bastar during their times of suffering”.

Minister Vijay Sharma responded to the fifth appeal by Maoists for peace talks and he has taken a uncompromising stand, emphasizing the need to first verify the authenticity of the Maoists’ latest letter.

While the government is open to dialogue, Sharma rejected the legitimacy of recent meetings held in Hyderabad by some individuals and organizations seeking to direct the state and central governments on how to handle the Maoist issue.

“These are people who never felt the pain of Bastar. They did not stand with the tribal communities during horrific massacres in Chingawaram, Darbha Guda, Errabore, Manikonta, Ranibodli, and Tadmetla that killed several innocent people and security personnel. When the political leadership of Chhattisgarh was eliminated in the Jhiram Valley attack, they remained silent. Now suddenly they want to talk on behalf of the people?” Sharma said. “We will not engage in dialogue on their terms.”

Sharma reiterated that dialogue with Maoists is indeed possible—if the Maoists themselves come forward openly and directly. "Neither the central government nor the state government is interested in violence. But talks must be direct, not mediated by those who’ve never engaged with Bastar’s realities," he said.

On the issue of external voices, Sharma criticized the individuals and institutions who have started issuing directives to the governments after recent Hyderabad meetings. “Who are these people to tell us what to do? They never stood by the tribal communities when they were burnt alive in Errabore, or massacred in Tadmetla. How can they now suddenly claim to speak for Bastar?”

He also pointed out that Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai have consistently appealed to Maoists to return to the mainstream. “They are our own people, albeit misguided. We want them to come back and get rehabilitated. In fact, in Chhattisgarh, we’ve stopped calling it surrender. We call it ‘joining the mainstream’. We offer dignity, not humiliation.”

Deputy CM stated that the government is committed to bringing the Indian Constitution and development to every corner of Bastar and Chhattisgarh.