AP to mount social pressure on extremist groups: CM

After reviving peace talks with naxalites, the Andhra Pradesh government is planning to build 'social and moral pressure' on the extremist groups to evolve into a political party and work within the democratic framework.

Making a presentation at a meeting of chief ministers, senior ministers and officials of nine naxalite-affected states in Hyderabad on Tuesday, chief minister Andhra Pradesh YS Rajasekhara Reddy explained his government's recent initiatives to resume dialogue with the extremists, official sources said.

While claiming that the naxalite violence had come down substantially ever since his government set in motion the process of reviving talks, Reddy voiced concern over the possibility of extremist groups 'consolidating' themselves taking advantage of the peace talk.

Referring to the naxalites' contention that they have been fighting for people's cause, the chief minister remarked, "We are now asking them to sit across the table and discuss these issues. As a responsible government, we are committed to solve such issues".

Giving an overview of the naxalite problem in the state, he said that several thousand people have been killed in the last 35 years. "Though revolution is nowhere in sight, extremists have not given up their struggle," he said.

The chief minister said that his government was enlisting the cooperation of Left intellectuals in carrying forward the dialogue process.