The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Naxals told to eschew violence

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Thursday, Jun 16, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Naxals told to eschew violence

Special Correspondent

Power through barrel of gun is not possible, says the Chief Minister

HYDERABAD: The Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, has asked naxalites to exchew violence and join the national mainstream.

Addressing the concluding day rally of APCC president's `Gandhi Shanti Sandesa Yatra' at Charminar here on Wednesday, Dr. Reddy said the naxals' dream of securing power through the `barrel of the gun' would never be fulfilled. The entire world was in favour of peace and prosperity that could be achieved only through peaceful and democratic means.

The ideals of naxalism had become outdated and the Maoists should realise that they could not achieve in the next forty years what they could not in the last four decades. The fact that the Congress Government was implementing a people's agenda was indisputable and its pro-poor policies were hailed by all sections. It was time that the naxalites abandoned their weapons guns and joined hands with the forces of development, he said.

Recalling the sacrifice made by Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, he said the AICC president, Sonia Gandhi, was following in their footsteps. The previous Governments run by the fundamental and communal forces had tried their best to destroy the social fabric of the country. Ms. Sonia Gandhi's vision had knit the secular forces together and brought stability to the law and order, he said. He used the opportunity to list his Government's achievements.

Fight against poverty

The APCC president, K. Keshava Rao, dubbed his yatra a success, and said his fight was not just against violence but also hunger and poverty.

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