Kathmandu: Even if the Maoists declined to respond to the government’s offer for talks by January 13, the party of the radical communists still appear not averse to the idea of attending to the talks provided certain conditions were met by the establishment prior to the talks.

The last press statement issued by the Maoists dated January 13, the day government’s deadline expired, states that the party was ready for the talks but would wish that the UN or some reliable international agencies mediated the talks. The party also has also said that until the red corner notice and the terrorist tag were not lifted, the party can’t think of attending to the talks.

This implies that the party would not oppose coming to the talks if the red corner notices and the terrorist tag were lifted. This further means that they would wish the government taking some concrete positive steps in favor of the rebels prior to inviting them for talks.

This is a positive hint indeed.

Perhaps it is this statement that has prompted the deputy Prime Minister Bharat Mohan Adhikari to talk of government thinking of announcing yet another period for extending invitation to the Maoists for talks.

That the Maoists are willing to resume the talks becomes clear from their statement wherein the party threatens the establishment that if the latter announced the polls, it would meet with severe disturbances.

This means that the Maoists would wish the polls to be conducted only after their issue gets properly sorted out.

The inner message is that they would not mind the polls if appropriate and reliable international agencies mediated the Maoist-government talk much ahead of the elections.

The Maoists press statement has expressed its displeasure over the recent price hike effected by the government on the PoL products and has strongly warned Deuba and minister Pokhrel to scrap the decision and offer tender their respective resignations well within ten days or else be ready to face penal actions.

How Deuba and minister Pokhrel would react to this pressure is now known. However, what is for sure is that the Maoists have this time sided with the poor people and have exhibited their sympathies for those who have been badly affected by the recent price hike.