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Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary | Andhra Pradesh
By S. Nagesh Kumar
HYDERABAD, JULY 22. His `calculated risk' in allowing the ban on the People's War to expire paying off in terms of approval by political parties in the State, the Home Minister, K. Jana Reddy, now has his sights firmly set on the coming challenge of getting the talks going with the Naxalites. The open policy towards the Naxalites will face its litmus test almost immediately as the People's War will hold a martyrs' memorial meeting at Mogilicherla village of Warangal district on July 28 when some top PW leaders are expected to surface from underground after several years.
Tough decisions
The Home Minister will have to make some tough decisions before that day. Should the wanted leaders, many of whom have rewards on their heads, be allowed a free run? What should be the Government's response if Naxal cadres turn up at the meeting with weapons? Mr. Reddy may also have to actually provide police bandobust for the meeting lest some mischief-monger should try to disrupt it. Mr. Jana Reddy is credited with the view that in finding answers to these questions he would be guided by the `spirit' that has pervaded the talks so far between People's War emissaries and him. Without trying to hurl any challenges at anyone, he feels that the law of the land would prevail in case of trouble on July 28.
Immediate concern
However, the Home Minister's immediate concern is the modalities for the main talks with the Naxalites which, he hopes, will be finalised soon after he gets a reply from the People's War to his letter. Once these ground rules are agreed upon, he will have to name the Government's emissaries for the talks. According to his thinking, the team will consist of political leaders and intellectuals but not any policemen. What are the issues that these emissaries will talk with the Naxalites who do not repose faith in parliamentary democracy ? This is a tricky question since the People's War wishes to discuss a whole range of issues, including creation of a separate State, some of which does not fall within the State's purview. "Every political party wants the Government to go ahead and talk to the Naxalites but none is willing to outline, leave alone elaborate, the issues," sources close to the Minister said. The Congress Government is not unduly worried by warnings held out by a section of the police bureaucracy that Naxalites would use the open policy to regroup and strengthen. Experience shows that the scale of extremist violence remained the same, ban or no ban. Morevover, the People's War would need people's support to strengthen itself.
No alternative
Approached by reporters on Thursday, Mr. Jana Reddy admitted that he indeed had a gigantic task ahead of him. But, notwithstanding the Peole's War's ideology there was no alternative to talks. "Only time will tell what the final outcome will be". What he is clear about is that any understanding reached with the PW would be binding upon the militant outfit's units in several States since Ramakrishna, State Secretary, had been named as representative for the talks by the PW's Central politburo.
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