Suman ‘willing’ to mediate with Maoists

Kolkata, Mar 13: Singer-turned politician Kabir Suman on Thursday expressed his willingness to mediate between Maoists and the Union Government.

Earlier this month, Maoist leader Koteshwar Rao had said that Maoists would shun violence if the Centre welcomed intellectuals to facilitate the process. He specifically named writer Arundhati Roy, former bureaucrat B D Sharma and Kabir Suman as possible mediators.

"The entire ball is now in the government’s court. If Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Union Home Minister P Chidambaram want to talk to the Maoists to resolve the issue, I think the matter can be sorted out," Suman said.

"I am absolutely ready to mediate the process of dialogue if both the parties come forward and talk it out. I have no moral scruples being middleman between the Maoists and the centre," he added.

Suman represents the Jadhavpur constituency in the Lok Sabha.

He opined that tribals have a very strong reason to raise their voices against the ongoing operation against Maoists.

Suman also criticized the Centre’s decision to carry out Operation Green Hunt.

He however, denied having any contacts with Maoist leaders."I don’t know who this Kishanji is. I have never met him in my life,” Suman stated.

Meanwhile, Arundhati Roy had said she is ready to be an independent observer if the Centre agrees to hold peace talks with the Maoists but cannot act as a representative for the Maoists.


ANI