Maoists to take final call on Hikaka?

BHUBANESWAR/KORAPUT: Amidst report that Maoists will release a fresh audio tape on the resignation issue of Jhina Hikaka, the MLA said he was not sure about  how and when, if at all, the tape would be released.“How can I say when will they issue an audio tape,” he said on Sunday.Sources said Hikaka has been given 15 days time from April 25 by the Maoists to resign from the Assembly. Even though senior BJD leaders have said that such an ultimatum on an MLA is not acceptable and the party will never accept it, there has been no official reaction to this issue. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has also avoided to react to the issue.Hikaka has remained evasive on the question of quitting as an MLA ever since he was released by the Maoists. Before freeing Hikaka, the Andhra-Odisha Border Special Zonal Committee of CPI(Maoist) had claimed in an audio message that the tribal leader had given an undertaking at their “praja court” that he would resign as a legislator and also sever ties with the BJD.Hikaka said he had also been consulting the people of his constituency on the next course of action. “The Maoists should reconsider their condition for Hikaka’s resignation. The first-time MLA should be allowed to complete his full five-year term and work for the people of his constituency,” said a senior BJD leader.The demand by Maoists for the resignation of Hikaka is seen as a move to enable senior leaders of Maoist-backed Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangh (CMAS), including its president Nachika Linga, to enter electoral politics.However, as Linga has been on the run since 2009, the ultras seem to be looking towards other CMAS leaders in Narayanpatna area of Koraput district. As uncertainty persisted over Hikaka’s fate, senior BJD leaders were of the view that resignation under pressure would be unacceptable.“The Assembly Speaker had, in a ruling given earlier, categorically said resignation tendered under pressure is not acceptable,” BJD leader and Rajya Sabha member Pyarimohan Mohapatra said. Earlier, Independent MLA from Cuttack district Ramesh Rout had put in his papers. However, it was not accepted as the Speaker felt the action was due to pressure from some external force.