Date:28/01/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/01/28/stories/2005012807560400.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Naxals urged to resume talks

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, JAN. 27. The convenor of the AICC task force on naxalism, M. Shashidhar Reddy, has appealed to naxalites to resume peace talks put on the backburner now.

Addressing a press conference here on Thursday, Dr. Reddy said that every one should realise the importance of getting going in this regard without getting bogged down over some policy matters. Talks should not come to an end because of a few encounters or because of retributive killings.

Dr.Reddy urged the mediators in the peace process to mount pressure on naxalites to eschew violence and undertake second round of talks in the interest of people. Nowhere in the world, talks process was given up because of violence. The very essence of holding talks was to put an end to violence.

The task force was yet to submit a report of its study on the issue to the AICC as elections in Jharkhand and Bihar delayed its work.

Citizens' concern

The Committee of Concerned Citizens (CCC) has expressed its deep anguish over encounters as well as incidents of killing and mine blast by the CPI (Maoist) and Janashakti parties in the recent week.

In a statement here, the retired IAS officer and CCC convener, S. R. Sankaran, said re-emergence of the cycle of violence and regular loss of lives were a matter of deep concern.