The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Vidyasagar Rao wants national debate on talks with naxals

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jan 11, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Vidyasagar Rao wants national debate on talks with naxals

By Our Staff Reporter

KONARAOPETA (KARIMNAGAR DT.), JAN. 10. The former Union Minister, Ch. Vidyasagar Rao, has said that there should be a national debate on the peace talks with the CPI (Maoists) and other naxalite groups.

Talking to newsmen here on Monday, Mr. Rao said naxalites and arms issue were not restricted to one particular State. Maoists group naxalites were active in eight States and they had formed compact revolution zone (CRZ) in the entire corridor from Nepal to Andhra Pradesh, he noted.

He charged the State Government and naxalites with deceiving people in the name of peace talks.

The Government had failed to distribute lands and house sites and provide employment to the youth in villages, he said, adding that naxalites should first instil confidence among people. Surprisingly, the former Minister was flooded with several petitions from villagers from the entire mandal.

All along the route he was stopped by people in Kolanur, Nizamabad, Nimmapalli and Konaraopeta villagers.

Sarpanch's petition

A majority of petitions were pertained to unofficial power cuts, non-availability of drinking water, shortage of water for cattle, sanctioning of community hall and Velugu training centre, etc.

The Nimmapalli sarpanch, Ramulu Naik, submitted a memorandum to Mr. Rao on road-widening and drainage works in the village.

Expressing concern over poor enrolment of girls from the State into nursing course, he said people of the rural areas had reservations on the course and wanted the Government to rename the word nurse into `assistant to doctor.'

He called upon women to enrol their girl children into the nursing course.

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