Date:18/10/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/10/18/stories/2004101808140400.htm

Andhra Pradesh

`Naxal cadre recruitment no cause for concern'

By Our Staff Reporter

KARIMNAGAR, OCT. 17. The Minister for Endowments, M. Satyanarayana Rao, has supported the recruitment drive by various naxalite groups during the period of peace talks. "What is wrong in it? They (naxalites) should grow as a political party and capture power in a peaceful and democratic process."

Addressing a press conference here on Sunday, the Minister called upon naxalites to increase their strength and gain public sympathy to attain power. Neither naxalites could attain their goal with weapons nor the police could solve the problem with weapons, he said adding that peace talks were the only solution.

Welcoming the peace initiative taken by the State Government, he said the Government was committed to the implementation of land reforms. He said the peace talks were only a beginning and it would take a long time for completion.

TRS remarks

Mr. Satyanarayana Rao said the Karimnagar Zilla Parishad Chairman, K.V. Rajeshwara Rao joined the Congress on his own. The Chairman had become an independent after his expulsion from the TRS and joined the Congress, he said.