New Delhi:
Disclosing that Maoists were acquiring arms through Bangladesh, Myanmar and possibly Nepal, Home Minister P Chidambaram on Saturday nonetheless told them to "simply halt the violence" so that government could start talks with them.
There was no evidence of any money flowing in from abroad to the Maoists but "there is certainly evidence of weapons being smuggled from abroad through Myanmar or Bangladesh" and possibly Nepal, he said.
During a interview, Chidambaram firmly refused to respond to the comments of Maoist leader Kishenji, who had laid down certain conditions for a dialogue with the government. "He is the leader of an organisation declared as unlawful."
The Home Minister affirmed that the government was not insisting on the Maoists laying down arms as a pre-condition for talks.
"I have not used these words. Besides I am too practical to know they will not lay down arms. They have to halt violence which means halt the wanton destruction of railway track, roads, telephone towers, school buildings, bridges," he said.