Agnivesh wants an inquiry into Maoist Azad’s death

NEW DELHI - Social activist and an interlocutor of the Centre on the Maoist matter, Swami Agnivesh, and renowned judge V. R. Krishna Iyer have indicated that there is a need for dialogue between the Maoists and the Government.

Incidents such as laying landmines on railway tracks, threatening villagers and attacking political offices by the Maoists have increased recently.

The Central Government has encouraged Agnivesh to function as a mediator to initiate peace talks with the Maoists.

On Thursday, Agnivesh said that there has been no inquiry into the killing of Azad, a top Maoist leader in Andhra Pradesh.

He also said that the General Secretary of the banned Communist Party of India - Maoist (CPI-Maoist) outfit, Ganpati, is ready to have talks with the Government only after would a judicial inquiry into the killing of their “chief”.

“Ganpati, the secretary general of CPI Maoist in his interview has demanded a judicial inquiry and said just announcement of judicial inquiry is enough for us to join you for the peace process. That’s what he has told to the government of India,” said Agnivesh.

“It is high time that the Government of India orders a judicial inquiry and invites the CPI-Maoist leaders for peace talks. So this is, I think, the minimum that the government of India should be doing is to order a high-level impartial, judicial inquiry into the encounter killing of Azad,” he added.

Iyer said that peace is the only way of maintaining harmony in the country and any movement towards peace is welcome.

“I do not support terrorism in this country at all because I stand for anti-terrorist movement because we want stability, we want peace, so that we can have development. There cannot be development if there is no peace. Therefore, any measure which would induce or promote peace in our country is welcome,” said Iyer.

Agnivesh also said that he had approached the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary Rahul Gandhi and also the Home Minister P. Chidambaram and pressed the need for an inquiry into the killing of Azad since July but no step has been taken. (ANI)