#JUSTIN: Chhattisgarh Maoists Wave White Flag! What Will Amit Shah Do?
Ceasefire or Stalemate? Maoists Wave White Flag, Chhattisgarh Stands Firm
A short while ago, the outlawed Communist Party of India (Maoist) dangled a ceasefire offer before the Chhattisgarh government, but with strings attached—halt anti-Naxal operations and freeze new security camps.
The statement, dated March 28 and attributed to CPI (Maoist) Central Committee spokesperson Abhay, surfaced on social media just before Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to the state. It’s a desperate bid from a group battered by over 400 casualties in 15 months under the relentless ‘Operation Kagar,’ a joint Centre-state crackdown.
Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma, who doubles as Home Minister, didn’t blink. “We’re ready for unconditional peace talks—always have been,” he shot back, dismissing the Maoists’ preconditions as nonsensical. “No ceasefire talk makes sense when we’re offering rehabilitation, not bullets.”
Sharma pointed to the state’s surrender policy, already luring cadres to ditch arms for a mainstream life, and stressed Bastar’s development as the real endgame. “Send a representative if you’re serious,” he challenged, refusing to form a government committee unless the Maoists drop their terms.
The Maoists’ note, originally in Telugu, paints a grim picture—alleging civilian detentions and a suffocating military squeeze across Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, and Telangana.
They’ve rallied intellectuals, tribals, and activists to push for talks, claiming readiness to negotiate “in the people’s interest.” But Sharma’s unmoved: “Violence must stop first—no war, no ceasefire, just peace.”
This standoff isn’t new—past Maoist overtures have crumbled over similar demands. With Shah’s visit looming and Naxal ranks thinning, the rebels’ olive branch feels more like a plea. Chhattisgarh, though, isn’t budging—betting on surrender over stalemate to bury the red menace for good.
