The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Talks only way out, says PCC chief

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Feb 11, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Talks only way out, says PCC chief

By Our Special Correspondent

SRIKAKULAM, FEB.10. The Pradesh Congress Committee chief, K. Kesava Rao, on Thursday said that continuation of talks with Maoists was the only way out. The AICC observer for the State, Digvijay Singh, would be arriving in Hyderabad on February 14 to discuss the issue.

Asserting that the very fact of bringing Maoists to talks had been a success, Mr. Rao reiterated the Government's commitment. He said encounters were unfortunate "false encounters are condemnable and real encounters are avoidable."

Speaking to newsmen here, Mr. Kesava Rao asserted that the crime rate in the State had come down and the law and order situation was better when compared to other States like Gujarat. In the wake of Paritala Ravi's murder, the TDP had resorted to `organised vandalism' but there was no response from the public.

Excise policy

The Congress Government in the State had been implementing all promises made in the manifesto and there was no deviation. The excise policy was only a continuation of the previous Government's policy, the only change was that it was rationalised. On the promise of implementing prohibition in a phased manner, Mr. Rao said: "We want to educate public about the harmful effects of drinking."

On the charge of neglecting BCs in giving nominated posts, Mr. Kesava Rao said that certain guidelines were framed for this purpose and they had been adhered to. He said that the executive had failed, the judiciary was failing and the only institution that could save democracy was the press.

Addressing party workers at a meeting at Bapuiji Kalamandir later, Mr. Kesava Rao called upon party cadre to popularise the schemes that were being implemented by the Government.

Palavalsa Rajsekharam, district president, presided.

Mr. Kesava Rao said that the TDP was trying to mislead people by branding Dr. Rajasekhara Reddy as a `faction leader'. You should counter such propaganda, he said, recalling how the TDP chief had backstabbed his own father-in-law for the sake of power. Party MLAs -- Naresh Kumar Agarwal, Dharmana Krishna Das, B. Satyavathi and other party functionaries attended the meeting.

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