Andhra Pradesh   

Moves afoot to identify negotiators

By Our Special Correspondent

The Home Minister, K. Jana Reddy, at a press conference in Hyderabad on Tuesday.

HYDERABAD, JUNE 22. An exercise is on by the State Government for identifying suitable interlocutors to conduct negotiations on its behalf with the People's War and other naxalite groups, the Home Minister, K. Jana Reddy, said here today.

Indicating that the Government interlocutors would not be serving officials but well-meaning persons keen on finding a solution to the extremist problem, he said consultations were under way to shortlist them. They could even include representatives of civil rights groups.

If the demand arose, he would consider whether he should directly participate in the talks, Mr. Reddy said when a reporter pointed out that the People's War had nominated its senior functionary and State Secretary, Ramakrishna, as its pointman for the talks.

Addressing a press conference here today, the Home Minister whole-heartedly welcomed the PW statement announcement that it was ready for a three-month ceasefire from June 16 as also the letter written by the CPI-ML (Janashakti) naming PUCL representatives Keshav Rao Jadhav, Jaya Vindhyala and Iqbal Khan as observers for the talks.

The Government would provide a free passage for naxalite representatives taking part in the negotiations, he said. The Minister's assurance takes care of the concern of PUCL leaders who demanded today a guarantee from the Government about the safety of naxalite leaders who participate in the talks.

Mr. Jana Reddy also said the agenda and other issues related to the negotiations were being finalised. "It is a good augury that all have agreed for the talks. I hope that a peaceful atmosphere will prevail so that the talks are fruitful. The Government will move in that direction," he added.

Answering a question, the Home Minister said the PW's insistence that its cadres would carry weapons during their visit to villages to propagate their ideology would send wrong signals. While the subdued tone of the PW's statement was noteworthy, there were some contradictions in it, he added.

Asked whether Government would lift the ban on the People's War, he said the decision would depend on the outcome of the talks. The ban, he pointed out, would be in force only till July 22. Mr. Reddy held that the issue of lifting the ban had nothing to do with POTA under which PW had been listed as a terrorist outfit.

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