Odisha : The negotiation process between the Odisha Government and Maoists over release of two Italian nationals, failed to take off today due to difference of opinion over selection of mediators. Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has rejected the proposal of the Maoists to include CPI(Maoists) politiburo member Narayan Sanyal as a mediator in the discussion process. He said, Sanyal is undergoing life imprisonment under different Acts and presently serving jail term in Giridihi in Jharkhand. Another mediator proposed by Maoists, Human Rights Activist Biswa Priya Kanungo, has expressed his unwillingness to negotiate on behalf of the Maoists. However, Naveen Patnaik said there is no objection from his government to accept Maoist supporter Dandapani Mohanty as a mediator.

The state government has appealed to the Maoists to propose two more names in place of Sanyal and Kanungo to begin talks at the earliest.

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today made a fresh appeal to the Maoists to free the two Italian hostages who are under their captivity since seven days. He said the families of the two in Italy are distraught by their disappearance. Meanwhile, the Odisha Government has selected three IAS officers, UN Behera, PK Jena and SK Sarangi, to negotiate with the Maoist mediators on its behalf. Union Tourism Minister, Subodh Kant Sahaya, while talking to media persons at Bhubaneswar today, strongly criticised the cowardice act of the Maoists. He said the Maoists have nothing to do with foreign nationals as it will no way help in achieving their goals. He said the abduction of Italian nationals will only tarnish the image of the Maoists. Maoists have put forward a 13-point charter of demands before the Odisha Government including halting of Operation Gree Hunt and freeing a number of jailed Maoist leaders and supporters in liue of the two Italian hostages. The extended deadline given by the Maoists to the Odisha Government ended today evening.