Kishenji’s death was encounter: PC

Kishenji’s death was encounter: PC

Rejecting allegations of a fake encounter, Union Home Minister Chidambaram on Wednesday said there were “no doubts” that Maoist leader Kishenji was killed in a gun battle with security forces in West Bengal last week.

“Reports indicate that he was killed in a gun battle that started on November 22 and concluded on November 23. We have no doubts about the encounter. He was killed in an encounter,” Chidambaram, who completed three years in office as the Home Minister, told mediapersons after presenting his monthly report card.

Reiterating the Centre’s offer for talks with ultras, if they suspend violence, he said: “The State will not bend before anyone who uses violence as an instrument of policy to achieve political demands. That is why we tell them to suspend violence and come for talks and when you come for talks, you will be treated with dignity and honour. And we can resolve your political demands through talks.”

He was replying to questions on the bomb blast in Manipur and about talks with different insurgents groups in the North-East.

“It applies to Maoists also. I have made this statement several times before and I make it again today as I complete three years. Even Maoists should suspend violence. We are not asking for more at this stage. Just say there will be no violence and my offer stands,” said Chidambaram.

Refusing to respond to his boycott by the Opposition, Chidambaram said, “It depends on how one looked it”. He was asked if the BJP’s decision had hurt him.

On the issue of Telangana, he said four political parties of the State — BJP, TRS, CPI, CPI(M) — have already taken their stand but the four others were yet to make up their mind. “We expect that the remaining four political parties, including Congress, will be able to make up their mind, say before end of December to enable me to call an all-party meeting of all Andhra Pradesh parties as early as possible,” he maintained.