The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : YSR decries killing of `unarmed' civilians

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Apr 24, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

YSR decries killing of `unarmed' civilians

Staff Reporter

Scathing attack on naxal violence

VIJAYAWADA: The Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, has criticised the killing of `unarmed' civilians by Maoists.

Launching a scathing attack on the `mindless violence' of Maoists at an informal chat with newsmen at the Indira Gandhi Municipal Stadium here before leaving for Eluru on Saturday, Dr. Reddy said that innocent people were being killed in the garb of informers.

Stating that the human rights groups were showing concern only when naxalites were killed, he said that even those being killed by Maoists also had human rights. "The rights organisations should condemn the killings and violence being perpetrated by Maoists also. Don't ordinary citizens have human rights?" he asked.

The demand of the Maoists to stop combing operations had no justification because there was a need to maintain law and order in the State. "They don't want to give up weapons. They kill anybody. But, the police should not conduct combing and make arrests. Is there any justification in this?" he asked.

Praja Padham success

The Chief Minister said Praja Padham was a great success in resolving people's problems. The elected representatives and officials who were participating in the programmes were answerable to the people. The prime objective of the programme was social accountability. The Government was implementing several welfare measures, including free power to farmers, despite adverse seasonal conditions.

Dr. Reddy said the State Government was implementing the Food-for-work (FFW) programme extensively in drought-hit districts. Stringent action would be taken against officials, if machines were used in the implementation of the programme. He urged people to inform the Government about all such instances. He said the necessary care was being taken to make sure that the FFW rice was properly distributed, for it used to be diverted by `vested interests' earlier.

Adoption case

To a query whether the Government was contemplating handing over the child adoption racket case to the CBI, Dr. Reddy replied in the negative.

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