Sharma agrees to negotiate

BHUBANESWAR: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday again appealed to the Maoists to release the two Italian hostages.Making a statement in the Assembly, Naveen said, “All of us are deeply concerned about their well being and safety.” He said the ambassador of Italy spoke to him again on Wednesday expressing his concern about the safety and health of the two Italian citizens.A number of members of the print and electronic media from Italy are in Bhubaneswar anxiously awaiting the release of the two Italians, he said. The Chief Minister said Dr BD Sharma had agreed to negotiate on behalf of the CPI (Maoist) and was expected to arrive in Bhubaneswar on Thursday. He, however, said the announcement of the name of the third negotiator by the Maoists is awaited.Naveen said, “It is learnt from the media that the CPI (Maoist) have nominated Dr BD Sharma and Prafulla Samantray in place of Narayan Sanyal and Biswapriya Kanungo to negotiate with the State Government regarding the release of the two Italian hostages, Paolo Bosusco and Claudio Colangelo. Samantray has expressed his unwillingness to participate in the negotiation.’’