The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Naxals' stand: 'Back to armed struggle, if talks fail'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Oct 13, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Naxals' stand: 'Back to armed struggle, if talks fail'

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, OCT. 12. The People's War leader, Ramakrishna, today made it clear that the militant outfit will return to its `old methods' if the talks with the Government fail.

Participating along with CPI(ML) Janasakthi leaders in a `meet-the-press' programme organised by the Andhra Pradesh Union of Working Journalists (APUWJ) here on Tuesday, he declared that the the ultimate goal of political power could be achieved only through armed struggle.

The talks were being held as per the desire of the people and aimed at solving some of their problems. He stressed that land distribution and the severance of ties with the World Bank would be among the main demands in the talks with the Government.

TDP regime assailed

Even while maintaining that political power could not be achieved through talks, he held out the olive branch to other State Governments saying that the respective State committees would decide on the question of holding talks if a congenial atmosphere was first created by declaring a ceasefire. It was the policy of the PW's Central Committee that the State Committee concerned should take a decision in accordance with the local situation.

He accused the previous Telugu Desam regime of `scuttling' the earlier talks by not taking into account the democratic aspirations of the people. He said the Congress Government created the democratic atmosphere and took steps for holding talks. The outcome would depend on the Government's response, and warned that it would face resistance from the people if it continued the old policies.

On their part, he said, they were hopeful while the Janasakti leader, Amar, described the proposed talks as a `historic event.' There should be a way to solve the problems of the people, he said and promised to try to make the talks successful.

`Tactical error'

Asked whether the party would replicate the 1977 decision to temporarily withdraw the armed struggle, Ramakrishna said the party felt after a review that it was a `tactical error'. He said it would not be repeated and criticised the State Government for creating `confusion' on the issue by saying that allowing them to carry arms would lead to law and order problems. He viewed it as a Government strategy to disarm the party. People would not have protection if they were asked to give up weapons, he added.

To a question whether he would contest elections if people so desired, Ramakrishna said experience had shown that there would not be such a wish and they would be wanting an `armed struggle'. He said the outfit normally took precautions to ensure that no anti-social elements entered with fresh cadre.

Replying to another question, he justified the violence resorted to by naxalites saying it was a `counter violence' to the `State violence'.

He said naxalism was part of the solution and not a problem.

`No links with LTTE'

He cited suicide by farmers as one of the adverse consequences of following World Bank policies.

Asked whether he had any alternative economic model, he quipped: "Let the socialist, sovereign, secular, democratic model be implemented first."

He denied that the PW had links with the LTTE, and dismissed as `media writing' the talk of a corridor between Nepal and parts of India.

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