The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Naxal talks: full-fledged panel set up

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Sep 29, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Naxal talks: full-fledged panel set up

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, SEPT. 28. With a view to smoothening the road to direct talks with naxalites, the Home Minister, K. Jana Reddy, here today announced constitution of a full-fledged Monitoring Committee with 20 members to serve as a watchdog against violation of ceasefire by either side — the police or the naxalites. Members have been chosen from all walks of life.

IAS officer

There are five human rights activists, four journalists, two leaders representing SC and BC organisations, two university professors and a retired judge, apart from Y. Radhakrishna Murthy, former MP of the CPI (M), and T. Gopala Rao, a retired IAS officer.

The Minister also disclosed at a press conference that the Government would have seven representatives at the direct talksand their names would be announced tomorrow. He, however, did not rule out one or two IAS/IPS officers being included. Mr. Jana Reddy also made it clear that the top leaders of PW and Jana Shakti would come to the venue without any arms and they would be ensured safe passage back into their forest sanctuaries.

Talks at any cost

He said the Government was committed to October 2 but if the PW/JS indicated any other day in view of their September 30 rally in Hyderabad , it would be acceptable.

"After all, the ultimate goal of both sides is to initiate the talks at any cost in fulfilment of people's aspirations."

Asked to comment on the five themes selected by the PW for the talks, including separate Telangana and land to the tiller, Mr. Reddy said this was not conveyed to the Government yet and the agenda could be decided once both parties were at the table.

Naidu's statement condemned

The Home Minister condemned the statement by the former Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu, attributing the remark to the Union Home Minister, Shivraj Patil, that naxalites could take part in the talks with arms.

When the State Government was against militants carrying weapons during their propaganda itself, where was the question of allowing the same at the talks, he asked.

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