New Delhi, Mar 21 (IANS): Home Minister P. Chidambaram Wednesday rejected Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's charge that the central government offered no help in getting two Italians freed from Maoists in the state.

"If he (Patnaik) has actually said that, I am very disappointed. I don't think the chief minister should be making these statements without any basis," Chidambaram told reporters here, a day after Patnaik said the central government did nothing to end the hostage crisis.

The minister said he spoke to Patnaik Sunday. "I offered him every help. He did not ask me for anything. He said I am just keeping you informed.

"No specific request for help has been made until I left my office a few minutes ago," Chidambaram said.

Patnaik said Tuesday that the external affairs and home ministries were not "displaying urgency in the hostage crisis issue".

"S.M. Krishna (the external affairs minister) did not even attend to my call initially when the Italian tourist abduction took place," Patnaik told CNN-IBN.

The Italians-- tour operator Paolo Bosusco and tourist Claudio Colangelo -- were abducted March 14 when they were trekking in Kandhamal.

Maoists holding them captive have issued a list of 13 demands, including a ban on tourists visiting tribal areas, end to the government's anti-insurgency operations and the release of jailed rebel leaders.