AP govt, naxalite ceasefire ends

With the Andhra Pradesh government maintaining silence over extending the six-month ceasefire period that expires tomorrow, uncertainty looms large over the second round of peace talks with naxalites who have hardened their stand and threatened to launch a 'counter-offensive campaign to resist police repression'.

A decision on extending ceasefire would be taken after consulting the Cabinet colleagues, Home Minister K Jana Reddy told reporters here when asked about the demand for extending the ceasefire.

The first phase of the direct talks between the Maoists and the Congress government were held in October during which both sides had kept aside the contentious arms issue and went ahead with the main agenda focussing on land reforms.

However, the government is now insisting that naxalites give up arms to make the dialogue process meaningful while the Maoist parties have firmly ruled out giving up armed struggle and accused the police of resuming combing operations and arrests.

Three top leaders of CPI (Maoist), including its state secretary Ramakrishna, had called upon their cadre yesterday to 'resist police actions' and accused the government of violating all the provisions of ceasefire agreement and encouraging police to unleash repression.

"It appears that this government, like the previous TDP regime, is viewing naxalism as a law and order problem and not as a socio-economic issue," the Maoist leaders said in a statement yesterday.

Along with Ramakrishna, the secretary of north Telangana Special Zonal Committee of CPI (Maoist) Jampanna and Sudhakar of Andhra-Orissa Border Special Zonal Committee were the signatories to the statement.

Alleging that the police had denied permission to hold meetings at several places across the state, they said "We call upon people to obstruct the political meetings of the ruling party till a conducive atmosphere is created for revolutionary parties to carry on with their political activity."

They also alleged that the government was encouraging the police to foist false cases against naxalites and their sympathisers and carry on with combing operations.