Notwithstanding the negative response of Maoists to its peace offers, the government is optimistic that the Left extremists would agree to talks once they "feel the heat" of the ongoing security operations.
"Once they (Naxals) feel the heat and pressure, they will talk," Union Home Secretary G K Pillai said on Tuesday. In an interview to a private news channel, he also said the governments of Naxal-affected states were cooperating with the Centre with regard to the ways and means to tackle the extremist menace.
The five states most affected by the menace - Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa and West Bengal - are ruled by non-Congress governments.
West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, whose state has been witnessing Maoist violence despite the ongoing joint security operations, has been advocating similar operations in Jharkhand on the grounds that the extremists, after committing a crime were taking shelter in the jungles of the neighbouring state.
While the Central forces and those in some states are carrying out offensive against the extremists, the government has repeatedly asked the Maoists over the last few months to abjure violence and come forward for talks.
