Kolkata: Swami Agnivesh, who is the peace negotiator between Government and Maoists, said that the killing of Maoist leader Cherukuri Rajkumar alias Azad is a setback to the peace process. Agnivesh claimed that Azad's response to his initiative for peace talks was positive.


"He being killed is a very big shock, the greatest shock of my life. I had written a letter to him talking of all appreciation for his steps for peace talks and the steps I wanted him to take. I feel maybe this letter may have given him some hitch about the Government softening stand and maybe he was a bit relaxed on his security front. (He) Maybe laid down his guards and maybe that led to his killing," said Agnivesh.


He also said that the Government had earlier responded positively to Maoist demand for ceasefire.






"Azad said he wanted mutual ceasefire to be signed simultaneously by both sides. Chidambaram (Union Home Minister P Chidambaram) had responded positively but he was asking for a date for this ceasefire saying that to implement the ceasefire, he had to make some preparations. These preparations required a 72-hour ceasefire to facilitate," he said.


Agnivesh said that had "Azad been alive he would have come up with a date and the talk could have gone ahead".


"If we have to give a tribute to Azad we have to take the peace talk on. Maoist leaders are understandably upset and I understand them, but request them, beg of them, and appeal them to keep the process of peace alive," he added.


Azad was shot dead by the Andhra Pradesh Police in an alleged encounter last week in Adilabad district.