Land issue high on Naxal-AP talks agenda

The other issue to be addressed is self-reliance which, according to Naxals, is ‘‘saying a firm no to all multi-national products and promoting domestic goods’’. Globalisation, WTO and the pampering of World Bank and opening the country to the onslaught of MNCs at the cost of the domestic market are the issues likely to be discussed. While Home Minister K. Jana Reddy heads the government delegation, CPI (Maoist) state secretary Ramakrishna along with Janashakti leader Amar are the leaders representing the Naxals. The two parties have broadly agreed to set up a commission to oversee the implementation of land reforms, sources said.

On Saturday, Jana Reddy had assured the Naxals that their demands — release of political prisoners, withdrawal of cases against revolutionaries, removal of rewards on the heads of revolutionaries and disbanding of mafia gangs allegedly propped up by some police officials — would be considered. He added that the government’s decision would also be conveyed to them before the first round of negotiations.

Yesterday, CPI(Maoist) state secretary Ramakrishna said: ‘‘The government has responded favourably to our four demands. We have arrived at a consensus.’’