“The President and the PM, in their Independence Day speeches, have appealed to the Maoists to abjure violence. We are never for violence but the government has instigated us to take up arms,” Kishenji told PTI from an undisclosed destination. “When our comrade Azad was preparing ground for talks, he was treacherously killed.... So, it is very clear from the activities of the government that they don’t want peace.”

He claimed there were “some reports from the PMO that Mamata Banerjee has been asked to work as a mediator. If she agrees, then we have no problem”. He suggested some names of mediators, like activist Arundhati Roy and Trinamool Congress MP Kabir Suman among others.

“But we will not declare ceasefire unilaterally unless there are some positive steps from the government,” Kishenji said. “If the Prime Minister is keen to restore peace and normalcy in the disturbed areas of the country, then he will have to take an initiative to withdraw joint forces and order a judicial inquiry into the murder of Azad,” he added.