The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : State Government invites naxalites for talks

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jun 09, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

State Government invites naxalites for talks

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, JUNE 8. The State Government has invited naxalites for talks to end the more-than-three-decade-long problem of left-wing extremism in the State.

The invitation came from the Minister of Home, K. Jana Reddy, after he held prolonged discussions with leaders of the Committee of Concerned Citizens at the Secretariat this morning.

Mr. Jana Reddy insisted on the presence of All India Radio so that the message could reach the naxalite leaders camping in the forests. However, no date was indicated. Significantly, he ruled out lifting ban on the People's War due to lapse soon.

As for the Government, he said, "it is ready in all respects for talks" having created a conducive and congenial atmosphere by doing away with rewards for policemen involved in encounters. The Minister wanted the naxalites to reciprocate in a similar spirit at this crucial juncture by completely stopping violence, and appealed to the People's War top brass not to resort to provocative acts thwarting the sincere attempts by the Government to resolve the problem.

S. R. Sankaran, Committee of Concerned Citizens' convener, K. G. Kannabiran and S. Haragopal, leaders of human rights and civil liberties movement, Potturi Venkateswara Rao and others who took part in the discussions, told reporters that "things are moving on a positive note" and promised their "full cooperation" for making the fresh bid successful.

Mr. Jana Reddy was optimistic about a positive outcome "in two to three months", citing the "harmonious situation" prevailing in the State. He reassured the PW that the Government, for its part, would exercise restraint and would not harm naxalites during the peace process. When his attention was drawn to the recent encounter in Nalgonda district, the Minister said the extremist problem "has been there for the past 40 years and we cannot wipe it out in four days."

The Home Minister said the massive mandate given to the Congress by the people reflected their aspiration to solve the naxalite problem through dialogue and within the Constitutional framework and establish peace in the State for the sake of development. He also made it clear that the police would not keep quiet if naxalites resorted to violence, taking advantage of the situation. "The mandate is also for maintenance of law and order," he said.

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