NCP seeks withdrawal of ban on CPI-Maoist

Orissa will be saved from bloodshed. Both Maoists and the security forces will benefit from the agreement," NCP`s national executive member and former MLA Arun Dey told reporters.

Seeking withdrawal of ban on the outlawed outfit, he said a ban only encouraged the ultras which could adversely affect the peace process initiated by state government.

Dey, however, clarified that NCP demanded withdrawal of ban in Orissa alone and not in other parts of the country including Maharastra.

"As the state government has started peace initiative, lifting of ban order will help in winning confidence of the misguided youths," he said.

Demanding extension of the state government`s agreement of examining cases against Maoists, Dey said it should be applicable to all political detainees in the state.

"Cases against all political prisoners should be examined and steps be taken to free them from jails," he said.

A former leftist leader, Dey also said union home minister P Chidambaram had "no business" in the affairs in the state. "Chidambaram has no business to question how the state government ensured release of its officials from Maoists captivity," Dey said.

While opposition parties including Congress and BJP describe the hostage crisis as a "drama" and "pre-planned" one, the NCP leader said people will believe if the state government does not honour its commitments made to the mediators.