The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Naxals rule out giving up arms

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Aug 30, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Naxals rule out giving up arms

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD, AUG. 29. People's War and Janashakti groups of naxalites will formally convey to the State Government their rejection of the Government stand that naxalites should not move in villages with arms during the ongoing peace talks.

Letter soon

The combined decision of PW and Janashakti not to give up weapons, which was announced at a public meeting organised by Janashakti at Rudraram in Medak district on Friday, will be communicated to the Government through a letter in a couple of days, the Janashakti emissaries for peace talks with the Government-- Chellapalli Srinivas Rao and Chandranna -- told a news conference here on Sunday.

To a question whether the decision could stall the talks, they sincerely hoped the talks would progress so that the people's problems could be focussed but "the ball is in their court." It was for the Government to decide whether it wanted the talks or not. The PW and Janashakti favoured unconditional talks in tune with the pre-poll promise of Congress.

They said the naxal squads were in no position to move in villages without arms. Weapons were central to the armed struggle.

Charge against police

Mr. Rao and Mr. Chandranna came down heavily on the police for trying to `foil' the Rudraram rally through `intimidatory' tactics. The police detained vehicles heading for the meeting and drove back the crowds at several points. The Vemulawada Lorry Owners Association president and secretary were taken into custody and threatened with dire consequences.

The police should avoid similar obstacles to the Janashakti meeting at Vemulawada on September 11, they added.

Our Special Correspondent

adds from Ongole:

Human rights activist K. Balagopal has appealed to the Government to break the deadlock and revive talks with the PW at an early date.

Speaking to newspersons, he felt that it might not be possible for any democratic Government to meet the demand of the PW that its cadre be permitted to carry their weapons while moving among people for spreading its ideology. But there is substance in the argument of the PW leaders that they faced threat to their lives from certain police officers who have retired from service and floated some organisations.

Mr. Balagopal addressed the first district conference of Human Rights Forum here today.

`Intimidation'

Mr. Balagopal came down on the district police for registering a case of intimidation and tresspass against the district convenor of Human Rights Forum, N. Venugopal, after he had alleged that it was a fake encounter. He said that on their representation, the Home Minister had directed the police to withdraw the case. He asked the police to withdraw the case immediately.

The State convenor of Human Rights Forum, S. Jeevan Kumar, said the State committee would be elected at Karimnagar in October after electing district committees in all districts.

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