Now, Naxals too echo black money issue

Raipur: In response to the appeal made by the President Pratibha Patil to give up violence and join the mainstream during her recent visit to Chhattisgarh, Communist Party of India (Maoist) has demanded that the central and state forces from naxal-affected areas be withdrawn.

Interestingly, the release issued by the Maoists also touches upon the issue of corruption, saying government should act against "scamsters", and "bring back all the black money in foreign banks" before offering talks.
 

"We say this to the people of the country -- please tell the government that before offering peace talks (to Maoists) it should call off `operation green hunt`, stop training of army in Bastar and withdraw all military and paramilitary forces from Maoism-dominated areas," the release says.

Also, the MOUs signed with corporate houses for the exploitation of natural resources should be scrapped, and land acquisition processes should be stopped, it says.

If this happens, the "retaliatory violence in self-defence" will stop the next day, it adds.

The release also alleges that Maoists` spokesperson, Comrade Azad, was killed in a fake encounter following a similar offer of talks by the government last year.

The Maoists also criticised the increase in the prices of petroleum products, stating that the hike is "a form of state violence" against the poor.