Govt-naxals talks on Oct 15

The Andhra Pradesh government on Sunday decided to have direct talks with naxal leaders on October 15. Earlier, the People's War Group (PWG) has proposed the direct talks date as October 13.

The government has decided to have direct talks with naxalite leaders on October 15, in view of the by-election to Asifnagar Assembly constituency on October 13, home minister K Jana Reddy told reporters here after meeting chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy.

He said the modalities for direct talks would be finalised in a meeting with PWG emisarries and others on October 5.

The home minister assured that the government would provide safe passage to three top PWG leaders, who were named as representatives of naxals in the direct talks.

The PWG yesterday announced that its state secretary Ramakrishna, known as RK, would lead party's three-member team in the direct talks with the government.