AP govt to set up human rights panel

The Andhra Pradesh government will soon constitute a state human rights commission, a long-pending demand of civil liberties organisations, chief minister Y S Rajsekhara Reddy said on Monday.

"We have initiated historic talks with naxalites in the interest of peace and democracy. We will soon set up human rights commission in the state," Reddy said while participating in the State Formation Day celebrations in Hyderabad.

Outlining various developmental issues taken up by his five-month-old government, Reddy termed as historic, the ongoing peace talks with Maoists and reiterated his appeal to them to lay down arms and join social mainstream.

"What people want is peace and development but not weapons. We are confident that naxal organisations will eventually give up arms and join social stream," Reddy said.

Stating that his party has promised revival of dialogue with Left wing extremist groups, the chief minister said that his government had taken initiative and invited naxal groups for the first ever direct talks last month.

Reddy, however, skirted the contentious weapons issue that has cast its shadow on the second round of talks.