The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : YSR makes light of 5-year ceasefire talk

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Oct 15, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

YSR makes light of 5-year ceasefire talk

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, OCT. 14. The Chief Minister, Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, has dismissed as "meaningless" reports that his Government has sought a five-year ceasefire with naxalites to avoid dicey situations during Congress rule. Talking to presspersons here on Thursday, Dr. Reddy maintained he had never spoken about the issue anywhere. .He sought to play down the role of States on the issue of ceasefire.

He said it was for the Centre to announce ceasefire.

`Lay down arms'

A day ahead of the talks, Dr. Reddy emphasised that people-related problems raised by naxals at the discussions would be resolved, but added that they would have to follow the constitutional framework in some aspects. As per this, naxalites would have to necessarily lay down arms.

He said, "We want extremists to join the mainstream. We have extended a friendly hand to them and are doing our best.

But, can we do anything if they choose to retain the gun?"

He ruled out associating himself with the talks directly at a later stage, saying "it has not been thought of.''

Mandela example

At a meeting earlier, he idealised non-violence agitations by Mahatma Gandhi and spoke of Nelson Mandela who, he said, had first wanted to throw out the British rule in South Africa through armed struggle but switched to the Gandhian path.

He said guns were not relevant in the past, and were "all the more irrelevant now.''

Dwelling on people's problems, he said, the Government had identified many land-related issues with the help of the CPI and the CPI(M).

Suggestions from other political parties were also expected soon, he added.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Andhra Pradesh

News Update

Stories in this Section