Date:22/01/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/01/22/stories/2005012208010400.htm

Andhra Pradesh

TDP accuses State of mishandling naxal issue

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, JAN. 21. The Telugu Desam on Friday accused the Government of pushing the extremist problem into utter confusion like it has done with other issues.

Articulating the party's stand, the TDP spokesmen -- S. Venugopala Chary and M. V. Mysoora Reddy -- said it wanted a permanent solution to the extremist problem and that peace should prevail all over the State. It was with this belief that the party had welcomed the talks. At the same time, the party had condemned the killing of three party workers by the extremist group.

Referring to reports in a section of press that the party held internal discussions on the prevailing law and order situation, they said these were far from truth.

Programmes curtailed

The breakdown of talks and the series of encounter killings have cast its shadow on senior party leaders' programme beginning tomorrow, to reach out to the cadre.

The original programme was to make teams of senior leaders fan out and virtually cover nook and corner of each district. Owing to the recent developments it has been scaled down and these teams will now go only up to district headquarters towns and hold meetings there.

Three-point agenda

This programme envisaged a three-point agenda of taking up membership enrolment, strengthening the party and preparing the cadre for the forthcoming municipal elections. Twelve teams each of three senior leaders covering two districts had been constituted. They would tour the districts from January 22 and 25.

Naidu sets up panel

Meanwhile, the party president, N. Chandrababu Naidu, constituted a ten-member State Election Committee to oversee membership enrolment and for conducting organisational elections. P. Ashok Gajapathi Raju, has been appointed as the chairman and Revuri Prakash Reddy as convenor.

The eight members are M. Damodar Reddy, M. K. Baig, G. Srinivasa Rao, P. Ranganayakulu (both MLAs), G. Appala Suryanarayana, G. Nagesh, B. Narasimhulu and I. Rajeswari.