Silence the Guns

Last week the Home Minister’s only condition to start the talks with the Maoists was the cessation of violence for 72 hours. Now when the Maoists have offered a halt to the violence for 72 days instead of so many hours P. Chidambaram is balking  from the dialogue just because the Maoists also want suspension of violence on part of the government for 72 days and they want intellectuals and the Human Rightists involved in the negotiations. Why is the Home ministry fighting shy of involving Human Rights activists and the intellectuals? What harm can come if the Operation Green Hunt is suspended for 72 days? Why should not the Home ministry consult the same intellectuals before rejecting Maoists’ overture?