Talks with Maoists will be fruitful, Binayak Sen asserts

"We are desirous of progress and we are extremely hopeful that the talks (between the government and Maoists) that are going on will yield positive results," said Sen.
The state government under Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had appointed a team of interlocutors to facilitate talks with the extremists to lay down their arms and return to the mainstream.

The interlocutors, led by activist Sujato Bhadra, had been to Junglemahal recently to negotiate with the Maoists as part of the government’s peace initiative. Later they met Banerjee to apprise her about latest developments in the process.

Sen also extended support to right activists and organisations in other states that are in the process of rehabilitating the guerillas. “We will be extremely happy to help any right activists or organisation outside Bengal, who are working to make their (Maoists) life better.”

Arrested in May 2007 on charges of links with the outlawed Maoists, Sen was convicted by the additional session judge of Raipur Dec 24, 2010, for waging war against the state, entering into criminal conspiracy and sedition. The Chhattisgarh High Court Feb 10 rejected Sen's plea seeking the suspension of sentence and bail during the pendency of his appeal.
He was granted bail by the Supreme Court April 15, with the court observing there was no case of sedition against Sen and he was at best a Maoist sympathiser.