The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Peace panel calls for flexibility on arms issue

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Aug 24, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Peace panel calls for flexibility on arms issue

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, AUG. 23. The Peace Initiative Committee (PIC) comprising senior journalists, writers and activists, has appealed to the Government to include the contentious issue of asking the People's War to desist from carrying weapons in its political campaign, in the agenda of the proposed talks and end the continuing stalemate.

Addressing a press conference, the PIC members expressed concern at the deadlock over the issue and said it was surprising that the Government was sticking to its stand when it had unconditionally come forward to hold the talks, fully aware of the fact that arms formed intrinsic part of the PW's political ideology. Moreover, the PW had raised strong objection when the arms issue was included as the seventh clause in the draft agreement.

The members included Dasaradhi Rangacharya, A. B. K. Prasad, V. Hanumantha Rao, Bojja Tharakam, M. T. Khan, Leo Augustine and G. Chakrapani (convenor).

Main demands

The other demands included immediate formation of the monitoring committee, issue of Government Order constituting an enquiry commission to investigate the incident involving a "covert" at Oddugudem in Warangal and withdrawal of cases booked against Varavara Rao, Gadar and Kalyan Rao, at a PW meeting in Yenumamula. All of these were conceded by the Home Minister, K. Jana Reddy, but not implemented so far.

They wondered why the Government was coming up with fresh conditions at a time when the Central Government was prepared to hold unconditional talks with Naga insurgents. It never asked the Naga extremists to leave arms. Even Nepal King was keen on having secret talks with Maoist rebels without any pre- condition. The State Government too should come forward without any reservations. They took exception to the Director-General of Police, S. K. Sukumara's comments on the PW's statements against the uranium project in Nalgonda and Pulichintala and said he had clearly exceeded his brief. It was for the political dispensation to comment and not for a police officer, they added and appealed to the Government not to succumb to the "pressure tactics'' adopted by police to "somehow derail the talks.''

People's War allays fears

Meanwhile, the PW appealed to progressive and democratic organisations and intelligentsia to bring pressure on the State Government to withdraw its stipulation that the outfit be disarmed to facilitate smooth conduct of talks.

Reassuring people that PW weapons would pose no threat to anyone and the organisation would not use it during the period the talks are held, secretary of the PW, Ramakrishna, in a statement here, said the condition exposed the "insincerity'' of the Government.

Charge against police

Instead of taking action against those responsible for Oddugudem covert activity, the Government was insisting on the PW disarming. People had high hopes on the ongoing talks process and the Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, should realise that the police were out to scuttle the peace talks.

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