Supreme Court lawyer and Team Anna member Prashant Bhushan though refused to mediate on behalf of maoists in Sukma Collector Alex P Menon's case, but endorsed the maoist demands as justified.

Bhushan said that he would not mediate on the issue. "No, I am appealing to the Maoists to unconditionally release the collector. I agree to most of their demands which are justifiable but the collector should not be used as a bargaining chip," he told when asked if he would act as a mediator. "Menon is an innocent officer. If the government is serious about addressing the root causes of Naxals, I am quite happy to be part of any negotiations then," he said.

After the Chhattisgarh government offered to hold talks to secure the release of the Sukma district collector, Maoists last night named three mediators, including former National SC/ST Commission chairperson BD Sharma and president of All India Adivasi Mahasabha Manish Kunjam. But Kunjam has also declined the Maoists offer citing regional circumstances and party obligations. They said only the three persons named by them will be allowed to negotiate in Tarimetla village and asked them to accept the invitation to act as mediators. The Maoists also termed Menon's health as critical and asked the mediators to bring medicines along with them. The Maoists asked the government not to indulge in "delay tactics" as Menon's health was deteriorating.