“I would like no ifs, no buts and no conditions,” Home Minister P Chidambaram said in a statement, a day after the CPI (Maoist) made a conditional ceasefire offer asking the government to halt its offensive against them for 72 days and involve mediators for talks.

He said the government had seen many versions of a statement reportedly made by leaders of the CPI (Maoist). “In the absence of an authentic statement, government is unable to respond to these versions,” the statement quoting Chidambaram said. “I would like a short, simple statement from the CPI (Maoist) saying we will abjure violence and we are prepared for talks.”

Chidambaram said he would like the statement to be faxed to the Home Ministry number 011-23093155. “Once I receive the statement, I shall consult the Prime Minister and other colleagues and respond promptly,” he said.

Later in the day, at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the Home Minister apprised the committee about the Naxals’ offer for talks.

It is learnt that the MHA wants the Naxals not to lay any conditions for talks. It would also like the Naxals to abjure violence, lay down arms and get into camps on the lines of the North-East separatists before seeking a dialogue with the Centre.

The predominant view at the CCS was that the offer for talks could be an attempt by the Naxals to get some breathing time to allow them to regroup.