The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : `Land distribution alone will not solve naxal problem'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jan 31, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

`Land distribution alone will not solve naxal problem'

By Our Staff Reporter

NELLORE, JAN. 30. Marri Sasidhar Reddy, convenor, AICC task force committee on naxal violence, has expressed the opinion that land distribution alone will not solve the naxalite problem.

Addressing a press conference here at the R & B guesthouse on Sunday evening, he pointed out that in West Bengal, where naxalism has its roots, the local Government had done well in implementing land reforms and earned credit all over the country. Despite all these efforts, naxalism had again sprouted there, said Mr. Reddy. He accordingly laid equal emphasis on provision of water for irrigation, apart from land distribution.

Mr. Sasidhar Reddy pointed that irrespective of political ideology, all parties had agreed on tackling the issue of naxalism. The common thinking was that the issue was not confined to law and order, but should be viewed as a social and economic issue.

He recalled that the core problems faced by the people had been well recognised and addressed by the Channa Reddy Government way back in 1990 and the programme was successfully implemented in nine districts.

Report in March

Asked about the continued stalemate in Andhra Pradesh on the talks between the Government and naxalites, with both groups maintaining a rigid stand,

Mr. Reddy wanted the issues to be resolved amicably and talks resumed, as people preferred to live in peace. "There is no place for violence," he asserted.

The task force, which was supposed to submit its report within three months, will now present it before March 15 to the AICC president, Sonia Gandhi. Mr. Sasidhar Reddy informed that a national convention on naxalism was held at Chennai and a number of important functionaries drawn from different fields expressed their opinion.

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