Hooghly (WB), Nov 3 Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Sitaram Yechury has appealed to the Maoists to leave the path of violence and leave it to the people to decide what was right for them.

Talking to reporters here on Monday, Yechury said: " I appeal to the Maoists to leave the path of violence and I ask them to put forward their views to the people and let them decide what is wrong and what is right."

Last month, suspected Maoists held the Rajdhani express train, which was freed by security forces after a five-hour hostage drama.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has described Maoists as the biggest internal security challenge since independence, which began four decades ago championing the cause of poor peasants in the east, but has now pockets of influence in about 20 of India's 29 states.

Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram said the government was willing to talk to the Maoists about issues such as poverty and orruption that are often blamed for stoking the insurgency, but insisted the rebels must first stop violence. (ANI)