Govt invites naxalite leaders for direct talks

Overcoming the initial hiccups on the arms issue, the Andhra Pradesh government on Thursday invited the naxalite leaders for direct, unconditional talks here on October 2 and assured a safe passage for them.

"I have sent a letter to the People's War Group (PWG)'s emissary Varavara Rao today inviting all the revolutionary groups for direct talks with the government," state home minister K Jana Reddy said at a press conference.

The talks will be unconditional with the government agreeing to set aside an earlier stipulation that the extremists should not carry arms during the talks period. "We have accepted their (PWG) proposal that the arms issue can be discussed as part of the agenda during the direct talks," Reddy said.

The government's decision brings an end to the stalemate over the arms issue. Several rounds of agenda-setting consultations that the home minister had with the PWG emissaries during the last two months were deadlocked over whether the extremists should be allowed to carry weapons.

Declining to disclose the contents of the letter which was sent to Varavara Rao through a messenger, Reddy said, "Let the invitation reach them first. We have expressed our readiness for a direct face to face."

Assuring a safe passage for the PWG leaders participating in the talks, he said, "We will put in place whatever security they may need."Asked who would participate in the talks on behalf of the government, Reddy said, "It can be anybody. Either me or anybody from the government."

Similarly, it would be left to the PWG leadership to decide on who should come on their behalf, he said. On the possible venue for what could be the historic event, he said, "We want the talks to be held in the secretariat."

The home minister said that he was even ready to "go to the forests to hold talks with the naxalite leaders if invited".

The government would soon convene a meeting with the mediators, comprising civil rights leaders, academicians and journalists, to discuss the agenda for talks.

Earlier in the day, Reddy had a meeting with the founder leader of Janasakthi Group of CPI (ML) Chandranna while none of the three PWG emissaries "" Varavara Rao, revolutionary Balladeer Gaddar and writer Kalyana Rao "" turned up for the meeting.

The minister later sent the invitation to Varavara Rao through a messenger.