Maoists willing to come to the negotiating table

BANGALORE: Art of Living founder and humanitarian, His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar today had a talk with Maoist leader, Mr. Chakradhar Mahato and persuaded the group to lay down their arms.

“The Maoists in Lalgarh have a few basic demands for water, electricity, schools in their local language, compensation for deaths in the on-going violence and cases against them to be withdrawn. As many as 118 Maoists are willing to come to the negotiating table if the government can agree to these terms,” Sri Sri said.

Sri Sri has conveyed this willingness of the Maoists, to the Home Minister Mr. P. Chidambaram and the Governor of West Bengal, Mr. Gopalkrishna Gandhi.Sri Sri has also been attempting to get in touch with the Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mr. Buddhadeb Bhattacharya on this issue. A representative of Sri Sri will reach Lalgarh later tonight in an attempt to bring peace to the region.