Hostage issue: CM invites Nachika for talks

BHUBANESWAR: Announcing that the State Government is prepared to hold discussions for release of certain members of the Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangha (CMAS) as per the demand of the CPI (Maoist), Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday appealed to the Maoists to extend the April 5 deadline.The Chief Minister again invited CMAS president Nachika Linga for talks on this urgent matter.In his statement on the hostage crisis in the Assembly, the Chief Minister said he had appealed to the Maoists several times in the House and through the media to release abducted Laxmipur MLA Jhina Hikaka.“They (the Maoists) should remember that he is a young tribal and a first-time MLA who has worked hard for the poor,” Naveen said and added that his appeal had always been a humane one and that of deep personal concern.Stating that he had often requested the Maoists to begin negotiations urgently for the release of the MLA, Naveen said the State Government was earlier told that they were not prepared to negotiate for the immediate release of Hikaka.“We have even invited the CMAS for talks on this matter,” Naveen said and added, “I invite Nachika Linga of the CMAS to come forward for talks on this urgent matter with my government.”The mediators of the Government in this matter remain the secretaries of the Home, the Panchayati Raj and Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Development departments, he said.The Chief Minister again appealed to the Odisha State Organising Committee of the CPI (Maoist) for the immediate release of  Italian national Paolo Basusco.Stating that Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda has demanded release of certain members of the CPI (Maoist) to set Paolo free, Naveen said a fresh round of talks started on Monday with the two mediators, Dr BD Sharma and Dandapani Mohanty. As Sharma was out of station on Tuesday, the talks will resume on Wednesday, he said.Naveen appealed to the Maoists to release Hikaka and Paolo unharmed immediately.