The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Will join ranks of naxals if they drop the gun: MSR

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, May 01, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Will join ranks of naxals if they drop the gun: MSR

Staff Reporter

Voices concern over spurt in violence

KARIMNAGAR: The Minister for Endowments, M. Satyanarayana Rao, has said he will give up his post as well as membership of the Assembly and participate in the naxalite movement if extremists drop the gun.

Talking to newsmen here on Saturday after participating in the Praja Patham programme, the Minister said: "I will resign all my posts and support naxalites if they launch a crusade against the rich in a democratic and peaceful manner." He said there should be a movement against those who had built palatial houses in Hyderabad.

Mr. Satyanarayana Rao said if black money could be unearthed there would be no need for World Bank loans for taking up developmental works.

`Misguided lot'

He said the naxalite movement had some ideology in its initial stages. "But, now naxalites do not have any leaders and only unemployed youth are joining their fold and resorting to violence. Top naxalite leaders are unhappy with the cadre for killing innocent poor people branding them informers," he added.

He said naxalites were a misguided lot and were not sparing even sparing the Left party leaders. One positive development was that the Youth Employment Scheme (YES), a joint initiative of the administration and the police, was yielding results.

The Minister lauded the district police for launching the campaign `Yuvatha meluko -- nee badyatha thelusuko' (youth awake and realise your responsibilities).

Reports denied

He denied reports that he had assaulted a villager at Mallapur of Thimmapur mandal during the Praja Patham programme recently. He clarified that he had not beaten the villager but had only prevented the latter from coming too close.

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