The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Centre backs dialogue with naxals: Jairam Ramesh

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jul 19, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Centre backs dialogue with naxals: Jairam Ramesh

By Our Staff Reporter

The Home Minister, K. Jana Reddy (extreme left), speaking at the round table discussion on `socio economic dimensions of extremism' in Hyderabad on Sunday. To his left are M. Sashidhar Reddy (MLA), Jairam Ramesh (Rajya Sabha member), Jayaprakash Nara yan (Lok Satta), Varavara Rao, G. Kalyan Rao and Gaddar (PW emissaries) and Asaduddin Owaisi (MP). — Photo: Mohd. Yousuf

HYDERABAD, JULY 18. The State Government's initiative to hold dialogue with naxal groups has the full backing of the United Progressive Alliance Government, the Rajya Sabha member and member of the National Advisory Council (NAC), Jairam Ramesh, said on Sunday.

Speaking at a discussion on `Socio-economic dimensions of extremism: an agenda for sustainable development' here, Mr. Ramesh said the UPA had emphasised addressing naxal violence and the socio-economic issues behind it in its CMP.

The meeting was organised by the Dr. M. Channa Reddy Memorial Trust and the Forum for Utilisation of Godavari Waters.

Mr. Ramesh admitted that the fruits of development had failed to reach the poor and said the Congress too should share the blame.

He promised that the next few months would see "a different political, social and economic approach to development."

The Home Minister, K. Jana Reddy, said the Government was aware of the problems of land, water, and social and economic justice that were feeding naxal violence, and promised to bring "our own social, environmental and cultural revolution to overcome the naxalite revolution."

The People's War emissaries of the CPI(ML) -- Vara Vara Rao and Gaddar -- said the main issues for naxalites were distribution of land and respect for human and democratic rights. He said naxalism, for the poor and the dispossessed, was not the problem but the solution to their problems. The two spoke at length about "police repression'' and called on the Home Minister to "rein in his police officers."

The Hyderabad MP, Asaduddin Owaisi, said a "core group of IPS officers" were trying to derail the talks. He suggested the release of naxalite undertrials jailed on "flimsy grounds," claiming this would strengthen "peace constituency" within the CPI(ML) PW.

Earlier, the BJP spokesperson, Parakala Prabhakar, had questioned the rationale of the talks when the naxalites' objective remained physical annihilation of their "class enemy." The human rights activist, K.G. Kannabiran, said for the poor the Constitution was like a "menu card in the hands of a hungry beggar."

The Secretary of the CPI(M), B. V. Raghavulu, the Minister for Minor Irrigation, A. Chandrasekhar, Convenor of Lok Satta, Jayaprakash Narayana, the former Deputy Editor of The Hindu , R. J. Rajendra Prasad, Professor of Osmania University K. Purushottam Reddy, B. V. Subba Rao of the Centre for Resource Education, the Chairman, of the Trust, M. Ravindra Reddy, and the MLA and Secretary of the Trust, M. Shahidhar Reddy, spoke.

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