The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Naxal shadow on APCC chief padayatra

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Apr 23, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Naxal shadow on APCC chief padayatra

Special Correspondent

Follow in Mahatma's footsteps, says Sunil Dutt during yatra aimed at spreading peace message

SPREADING PEACE MESSAGE: The APCC president, K. Keshava Rao, leading the `Shanti Yatra' at Yacharam in Ranga Reddy district on Friday. Others from left are: L. Rajagopal, MP, Nafisa Ali, Sunil Dutt, Union Sports Minister, Sabita Indra Reddy, Minister for Mines and Geology, and V. Hanumantha Rao, MP. PHOTO: P.V. SIVAKUMAR

HYDERABAD: The APCC president, K. Keshava Rao, released doves and lit the lamp at Takkellapalli of Ibrahimpatnam mandal in Ranga Reddy district to mark the beginning of his `Gandhi Shanti Sandesh Yatra' at around 9 a.m. on Friday. The yatra is aimed at spreading the message of peace and non-violence.

The Congress entourage then took a left turn from the main road towards Nallevelli and proceeded to interior villages.

A strong police force followed them guarding either flanks along the `kutcha' road. Special parties were posted all along as the area falls under the `jurisdiction' of the Rachakonda dalam of the CPI (Maoist).

Around this time, some 30 km away from the ``shanti yatra," Maoists shot dead a BJP mandal president, Mahender Goud.

Thus began Dr. Rao's yatra to denounce naxal violence and to urge people and other political parties to come to the rescue to political leaders being targeted by the Maoists.

Burning issues

On his way back to Mall junction on Nagarjunasagar road, Dr. Keshava Rao said his yatra was also aimed at focussing people's attention on poverty, hunger and deprivation, that could be described as crimes against humanity.

Equally disturbing was the tendency of the Maoists to threaten political leaders in the rural areas who were playing a key role in the implementation of developmental programmes. Threats to sarpanches were making them flee villages affecting the process of governance and depriving people the fruits of several programmes and schemes, he said.

The Union Minister for Youth Affairs, Sunil Dutt, made a similar appeal urging youth to shun violence and tread the Mahatma's path of non-violence to usher in socio-economic change.

The Minister for Mines and Geology, Sabitha Indra Reddy, social activist, Nafisa Ali, advisor to the Chief Minister, K.V.P. Ramachandra Rao, Rajya Sabha member, V. Hanumantha Rao, MLA, P. Janardhan Reddy, Pradesh Returning Officer, Daljith Singh, and a host of APCC officer-bearers took part in the `pada yatra' for some time.

Dr. Keshava Rao later addressed those who accompanied him from Hyderabad in dozens of luxury cars at Mall village where a few locals also were present.

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