Hyderabad, September 23
In what could be the first such engagement in the country, the Congress Government in Andhra Pradesh invited top leaders of the underground Naxalite groups for talks to find a lasting solution to the ultra-left violence.

“I have sent a letter inviting the PWG and other revolutionary groups for talks from October 2. I have also received an acknowledgement from PW emissary Varavara Rao,” Home Minister K Jana Reddy told reporters here today.

With this move, the stalemate over naxalites carrying weapons seems to have ended. The government, during its talks with the emissaries, has been objecting to naxalites carrying guns and said that talks could not begin unless they gave up their weapons. The Naxalite groups, however, rejected the government’s stand and PW emissary Varavara Rao maintained in an interview to The Tribune that the PW would “withhold the guns but not withdraw.”

The government now appears to soften its stand on the contentious issue. Though Mr Jana Reddy did not specify whether the Maoists were being allowed to carry arms during the ceasefire period, he said the government accepted the September 3 proposal of the emissaries that the weapons clause could be discussed as part of the agenda for the talks and should not be made a stumbling block for the dialogue.