YSR brushes up Naxal agenda, Reddy to talk

Later, Home Minister K. Jana Reddy told reporters here that the government would provide safe passage to Naxalite leaders during the talks. The Chief Minister would not be participating in the talks, but Jana Reddy will lead the official delegation. Today’s meeting was attended by eight of the nine representatives of the government, including ministers D. Prasada Rao, D.S. Redya Naik and K. Ranga Rao.

Jana Reddy said the government was ready to discuss each and every issue raised by PWG and Janashakti, as most of them related to either development or welfare schemes already initiated. If there is any lacunae, the government would rectify it, he added.

‘‘PWG’s line of continuing with armed struggle would not come in the way of the talks. Moreover, armed struggle is not an issue in the talks. During talks, each side will have it own strategy and this is not uncommon,’’ Jana Reddy told reporters here.

State PWG secretary Ramakrishna, secretary of Andhra-Orissa border special zone committee Sudhakar, member of North Telangana special zone committee Ganesh and Janashakti leaders Amar and Riaz will represent their organisations.

A thick security blanket has been thrown around Manjira guest house at Begumpet where the Maoist leaders are staying. There was a steady stream of visitors for the Naxalite leaders today. Ramakrishna, who carried a reward of Rs 12 lakh on his head, interacted with the visitors and accepted memoranda from them.

The Maoist organisations have already unveiled a 11-point charter of demands to be raised during the talks. These include land distribution, democratic empowerment of the poor, putting an end to World Bank dictated economic policies, total prohibition and separate state for Telangana region. Meanwhile, AICC general secretary Digvijay Singh, who was on a day-long visit to the city, welcomed the talks. ‘‘I think it is a good effort and I hope that at least now Naxalites will give up violence and join the mainstream.’’