The Andhra Pradesh government has decided to go ahead with the second round of peace talks with the CPI (Maoist) and CPI-ML (Janashakti) -- but made it clear that it would insist on left-wing extremists laying down arms as the crux of future discussions.
The state cabinet, which met here on Saturday, also took serious note of the 'provocative activities' of both parties such as forcible occupation of government and forest lands and collection of funds from businessmen, industrialists and others. The government said it would take action against resorting to these illegal activities.
At the same time, the cabinet decided to set up a commission to look into the availability of government and surplus lands and recommend measures for their distribution to the landless poor. The government would also draw up time-bound action plans for accelerated development of remote, interior and other backward areas.
Briefing newsmen, state Information and Public Relations Minister Mohammed Ali Shabbir said, "the cabinet expressed satisfaction over the first round of talks with the Naxalites. In the second round, the modalities will be worked out mainly on the issue of laying down of arms so that the Naxalites can join the national mainstream."
The Congress government in the state, he explained, had opted for the peace talks as it believed that the policy of 'bullet for bullet' would not bring peace. The bullet is no answer to any problem, he said. "We went in for talks because we sincerely wanted to work towards creating an atmosphere of peace and help the Naxalites join the mainstream," he said.
The state cabinet decided to take up developmental programmes in backward and Naxalite-affected areas to provide them basic infrastructure and amenities such as schools, hospitals, drinking water, roads, communications and transport, besides irrigation facilities and measures for agricultural development.
Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil, who was in the city on Saturday, also expressed satisfaction over the peace talks in the state. He made it clear that the Union government would not interfere in the issue.