"The seriousness should not be reflected only in words, but in work as well," long-standing Maoist sympathiser Varvara Rao told PTI. Dandapani Mohanti, who negotiated with the cadres for the release of the then Malkangiri collector R Vineel Krishna, said if the government behaves whimsically, it would send a very wrong signal and vitiate the atmosphere for talks. The Maoists had asked for suspension of the joint forces operation in Jangalmahal.
Mohanti said if the West Bengal government really wants to talk to the Maoists, it will have to take some positive steps to convince the rebels of its sincerity of intention. "The government in Orissa didn`t keep a single promise it had made, embarrassing not only the interlocutors, but also setting a very wrong precedent," he said.