The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Police trying to sabotage talks, says Varavara Rao

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jul 12, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Police trying to sabotage talks, says Varavara Rao

By Our Staff Reporter

VISAKHAPATNAM, JULY 11. The Revolutionary Writers' Association (VIRASAM) executive member, Varavara Rao, has asked the State Government to set up a committee comprising human rights activists and others to enforce the ceasefire announced by the State Government and the CPI (ML) People's War.

Speaking to reporters here on Sunday, he expressed anguish over the delay in constituting a monitoring committee, which he said could address to hitches if any in the enforcement of ceasefire. Accusing a section of the police of making efforts to sabotage talks, he said the rights activists were receiving threats from the self-styled secretary of Green Tigers CPI-ML, Haribhushan. In a letter, the balladeer, Gaddar, was threatened of dire consequences if he vouched for the talks.

"The Virasam president, Kalyan Rao, received a phone call from some `adivi biddalu' (sons of the forest) on July 4. When I was going to Warangal district to attend a memorial meeting organised by the ML parties in a jeep arranged by Janashakti, three persons stopped the vehicle near Bhongir and left after noting down the vehicle number," he said. All these incidents clearly prove that a section of the police was trying to eliminate democratic activists through `covert' operators, he alleged.

The revolutionary writer said that Green Tigers, Naladandu, and the `adivi biddalu' had a nexus with the high-ranking police officers and action should be initiated against their promoters.

Mr. Rao wanted that both the parties ink a pact on the conditions for enforcing the ceasefire. "So far it has remained in unwritten form though the parties have exchanged a few letters through mediators. For enforcing any pact, there is a need for a third party. Hence, the need for panel," he maintained.

Mr. Rao, who was confident of a positive outcome said, "Both the PW and the State Government entered into an agreement for a ceasefire on May 15. From both sides, there is no loss of life ever since."

The Government has agreed in principle names suggested by the PW for inclusion in the committee.

Seeking an unconditional withdrawal of the ban on PW, which is due for renewal on July 31, he said that to create conducive atmosphere for the peace initiative, the Government should immediately lift the ban.

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