Talks drag on, both sides non-committal

BHUBANESWAR: Freed Italian tourist Claudio Colangelo headed for Delhi on Monday evening, but his guide Paolo Bosusco’s fate remained uncertain even as the negotiations resumed on Monday showing no signs of going anywhere.While Paolo’s captivity entered 12th day, the peace talks between the two interlocutors and the State Government dragged on. After two sessions of talks on Monday, both sides said dialogues have progressed, but neither was ready to comment why it was taking so long.The negotiations had been suspended on Saturday, a day after Laxmipur MLA Jhina Hikaka was abducted in Koraput district revealing a rift between the two outfits of CPI(Maoist).“We are continuing with our discussions and have made progress. We hope to conclude it soon,” Home Secretary Upendra Nath Behera said after five hours of discussions during which he said all the 13-point demands placed by the Odisha State Organisation Committee , headed by Sabyasachi Panda, were discussed.Dr B D Sharma, one of the two interlocutors, also echoed the same feelings saying he was hopeful of an early resolution to the issue.However, Dandapani Mohanty, the other negotiator, who was more elaborate in his views, said “discussions always go one step forward and two steps backward.” Sharma seemed to support his colleague by saying uncertainties do creep into the dialogue at times. Mohanty soon clarified though that they would not be negotiating unless the talks progressed.“Sabyasachi Panda has already said that Government must reciprocate the goodwill gesture of Maoists, who released Caludio, and it is time for Government to do so by honouring their demands,” he said.The two interlocutors, however, refused to be drawn into the abduction of the Laxmipur MLA. Mohanty said he would not appeal to the Andhra Odisha Border Special Zonal Committee for release of the legislator. “They have made their stand clear by stating that they don’t need mediators. We have nothing to comment on that,” he said.