The Hindu : Cong. wants talks with PW to continue

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jun 23, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh

Cong. wants talks with PW to continue

By Our Special Correspondent

VIJAYAWADA June 22. The APCC spokesman, K. Kesavarao, has urged the Government to continue talks with the People's War and prevent police officials from vitiating the political negotiations which are at a sensitive stage.

Speaking to newspersons here today, he wanted the Government not to stall the `historic` talks standing on prestige. He pointed out that PW representatives had not demanded for lifting of the ban and came mainly to work out nitty-gritty for talks to put an end to the vexatious problem haunting the State for several years. The Government too should not put any pre-conditions for talks with political leaders waging a movement on socio-economic issues.

The "provocative statements'' issued by the Warangal Superintendent of Police were not helpful. The statement gave room for suspicion that the Government had a hidden agenda. The Government need not fear that the PW would use the one-month respite to strengthen itself. The PW had every right to propagate its ideology among people as long as it did not resort to violence, he felt.

To a question, Mr. Kesavarao said that the controversy over the reported statement of the APCC President, M. Satyanarayana Rao, on Indira Gandhi, should be treated as closed as he himself had denied the same. It was but natural that Indrasena Reddy felt hurt over the statement of the PCC chief and reacted spontaneously. As the president clarified on the issue, Mr. Indrasena Reddy also should forget the issue, he felt. Asked how long Mr. Satyanarayana Rao would continue in his present post, Mr. Kesava Rao said that he was the senior most person and continue till his term ends.

Mr. Kesava Rao came here to extend his support to the Satyagraha launched by the former minister, Paladugu Venkata Rao, demanding that the Government to pay arrears amounting to Rs. 4.2 crores to farmers of Hanuman Cooperative sugar factory in Krishna district, which was sold away to a private organisation.

He said that the delay in payment of the arrears betrayed "the anti-farmer attitude'' of the Government. He said that the factory owed farmers Rs. 1.6 crores towards incentives, Rs. 1.5 crores towards non-recurring deposit and Rs. 1.1 crores towards the share-capital. But the Public Enterprises Board (PBE), which is holding the sale proceeds of Rs. 11 crore, dodged payment to the growers by raising unnecessary objections, even though the District Collector had given a written assurance to farmers that their arrears would be settled soon after selling away the factory.

The Government should pay the incentive to which farmers are entitled. He, however, saw some reason in the argument of the DPE that it need not return the share-capital because the factory ran into losses and had to be sold away. The Cooperative Act required the Government to appoint a special auditor in consultation with the farmers to find out whether the losses were genuine or not.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

Stories in this Section

Anti-communalism fight common aim: Naidu

APCC chief leaves it to high command

'India forging ahead in biotech'

Girijans' death: policemen suspended

Highway plazas to boost tourism

Centre to come out with names of slain ISI agents

Cong. wants talks with PW to continue