The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : It's for State to decide, says Digvijay Singh

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Aug 17, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

It's for State to decide, says Digvijay Singh

Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD: Even as talk on re-imposition of ban on Maoists gains momentum, AICC general secretary and Andhra Pradesh in-charge Digvijay Singh has said that the party has left it for the State Government to take a decision on the issue.

"It is for the Congress Government, which is in place after being elected with a popular mandate, to take a final decision," he said, speaking to reporters after his return from Dhanwada where he attended the funeral of Congress MLA C. Narsi Reddy.

He refused to comment when asked about the support assured by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Home Minister Shivraj Patil to the Government in tackling extremist violence as he was not in the Government.

On the reaction of the Director-General of Police Swaranjit Sen ruling out further talks with Maoists, he said it was for Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy and Home Minister K. Jana Reddy to respond.

Mr. Singh said that in tune with its poll promises, the Congress Government had initiated several pro-poor programmes. Talks with Maoists was also part of the policy to establish peace. "But, incidents like this will hamper the peace process," he said, terming the killing of the MLA unfortunate.

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