The offer also reeks of a rift within the Naxal top leadership about whether to negotiate with the government, say sources.
The divide obvious from the fact that the offer of a conditional ceasefire on Monday night was followed within hours by an attack at a police camp in West Bengal's Midnapore district.
But sources say the attack that followed proves that there's a serious rift between Kishenji and his senior, Ganapathy, the General Secretary of the CPI-Maoists. In fact, the government believes Kishenji's ceasefire offer does not have the support of the Naxals' highest decision-making body, its politburo.
Given that dichotomy, Home Minister P Chidambaram has issued a cautious response to the offer.
'I would like a short, simple statement from the CPI (Maoists) saying we will abjure violence and we are prepared for talks. I would like no ifs, no buts and no conditions. I would like the statement to be faxed to 011-23093155. Once I receive the statement, I shall consult the PM & other colleagues & respond promptly.'
Sources in intelligence agencies say that the latest offer for a ceasefire is most likely prompted by Operation Greenhunt, the government's gigantic counter-offensive against the Naxals. Desperate to avoid this crackdown, the Naxals may be looking for a temporary reprieve. Sources also add that the Naxals may have been advised by intellectuals sympathetic to them that public opinion has turned against Naxals after the Silda massacre.
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