The Hindu : Rights activists asked to help solve naxal problem

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Mar 09, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Rights activists asked to help solve naxal problem

By Our Staff Reporter

KARIMNAGAR, MARCH 8. Expressing concern over naxalites specifically targeting BJP and TDP leaders during elections, the Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, Ch. Vidyasagar Rao, has called upon intellectuals, human and civil rights activists and others to chalk out a solution to the problem.

"When democracy is at stake due to naxal violence, elders and intellectuals should react. They should appeal or give directions to ensure that people participate in the democratic set up and exercise their franchise,'' he pointed out.

Addressing a press conference here on Monday, the Minister said the people should give concrete suggestions to overcome the naxalite problem. Calling upon all the political parties to vociferously condemn naxal violence, he said the naxals have been targeting all politicians. "If anyone is not condemning the naxalite violence, it shows that they have the naxalites' support," he added.

To a question about the resemblance of the party's slogan, `Dunna galige vanike bhumi' (Land to the capable tiller), with that of the naxalite's agenda, he clarified that the naxalites slogan was `dunne wanike bhumi' (land to the tiller), which is illegal and created unrest in the region.

He said the BJP slogan of land to the capable tiller was aimed to ensure distribution of at least two acres of land to the poor and provision of irrigation facilities. He said that they had been urging the Government to distribute surplus Government lands to the landless poor.

Asked about the differences between the Peddapalli BJP and TDP leaders, he said discord is common in all political parties before elections. But, once the nominations are filed and withdrawals completed, all differences would be resolved and everyone would work together for the success of both TDP and BJP candidates, he maintained.

Mr. Vidyasagar Rao refused to comment on the TRS-Congress election alliance and the Telangana issue. The BJP district president, P. Sugunakar Rao, the town president, Ravinder Singh, B. Jaganmohan Rao and others were present.

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