Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and major political parties welcomed any dialogue with Naxals provided they abjure violence. Patnaik, whose state has faced Naxal attacks including on police personnel, said "Repeatedly I have said they should shun violence. Then a dialogue is possible."
Chhatisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh, on the other hand, has raised questions on the credibility of the Maoists offer since it did not come through proper channel. The chief minister of the Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled State said, "No talk is possible with conditions attached. This is not a serious offer because it just came as an SMS and not through a proper channel."
The Maoists made a conditional ceasefire offer asking the government to halt the offensive against them for 72 days and involve mediators for talks on Monday.
Communist Party of India national secretary D Raja said, "There should not be conditions on both sides. Indulging them (Maoists) has become necessary in the given situation. "That is why I understand the government has reacted. Let government further explain the strategy it is going to adopt," he said. Congress leader K Keshav Rao, who is in-charge of party affairs in Naxal-hit Jharkhand and West Bengal, said "It is the most welcome development. This is not an offer coming from Naxalites. This is the offer which has gone from the government."
Trinamool MP Kabir Suman and Saugata Ray, Minister of State, Urban Development Ministry also welcomed Maoists offerof a dialogue."We cannot support anything that the naxals or maoists do. But if the offer is genuine and if this offer isauthenticated then it is a good step forward," Ray said.
Suman said "it is a very positive thing and the government should respond positively because we all are tired of deaths and peace is all we want. So this is a wonderful chance."
