Whither Peace Talks?

Despite the CPI (Maoist)    expressing readiness for peace talks and willingness to discuss disarmament, the Central and State governments continue to suppress and eliminate them. Since January 2024, due to a dramatic escalation in militarisation and intensified operations in Bastar alone, over 400 people have been killed, including civilians and children, with many of these deaths alleged to be fake encounters.

Over the past three days, ten thousand military forces, supported by military helicopters, have been deployed across the 70-km-long Karigutta region, resembling preparations for a full-scale war. The military operations in Chhattisgarh and Telangana, directly led by the Central government, aimed at annihilating activists and civilians, are tragic, unconstitutional, and contrary to the peace initiative. History proves that wars leave behind graveyards, not joyful peace, but deep discontent, opposition, and further violence. The Peace Dialogue Committee has rightly asked political parties, civil society groups, and the broader public to immediately demand a ceasefire and exert pressure in various forms to initiate peace talks. The ongoing war, against the will of democratic voices, must be halted. In view of the public mood, the Central and state governments should declare a ceasefire and start peace talks without delay.

The call for peace talks by the CPI (Maoist) has garnered robust support from various political parties, human rights groups, intellectuals, and the wider public, who vehemently oppose the government’s war against the people.

The Maoist Party’s statements on April 4, April 14 and April 22 via the Hindi channel “Bastar Talkies”, under the name Rupesh, reflect their sincere commitment to peace talks and ceasefire, free from any ulterior motives.

The Peace Dialogue Committee doesn’t want a temporary ceasefire but a permanent end to the war. If the government engages in respectful discussions, adhering to the Constitution and the aspirations of the people and democracy, a historic resolution for lasting peace, as desired by people, is achievable.

The Peace Dialogue Committee has already sent memoranda through e-mail to the Central and state governments urging them to commence peace talks. The Committee also plans to personally meet the Prime Minister, Home Minister and various chief ministers to submit another memorandum and discuss efforts toward peace.

To create an environment conducive to peace talks and enable the Maoist Party leadership to make appropriate decisions, as requested by the Maoist leader Rupesh, the Central and state governments should announce measures ensuring no firing or tense atmosphere for at least one month. The Peace Dialogue Committee strongly supports the Maoist Party’s move.

At this juncture, an unconditional ceasefire by the Union Government is a constitutional imperative. It is the only viable way to halt violence, rebuild trust among adivasi communities and reaffirm the state’s commitment to justice, peace and democratic values. The continued militarised action to what is fundamentally a political crisis, rooted in dispossession and historical marginalisation, has already caused immense and lasting harm. A just resolution is urgently required, one that recognises the present situation for what it is: a deepening political crisis involving the state’s own citizens.

While the government has claimed openness to “unconditional” dialogue, in practice, it has imposed preconditions, demanding surrender and return to the mainstream. What is unfolding is a state-driven campaign to shut down the possibility of political resolution altogether.

Meanwhile, Prof G Haragopal, the Peace Dialogue Committee Member, Telangana, SoniSori, social activist and others have made an urgent appeal to the President of India urging her to intervene and save the very lives of Adivasi communities who are under the existential threat in Bastar [Chattisgarh], Gadchiroli [Maharashtra] and West Singhbhum [Jharkhand]. So far the government’s response looks negative.

April 24, 2025
Contributed by Jampanna, Vice-Chairman, Peace Dialogue Committee]

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Vol 57, No. 48, May 25 - 31, 2025