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PM exhorts Naxals to join mainstream
Ramesh Kandula
Tribune News Service

Hyderabad, August 21
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today did some tough talking on Naxalite movement, even while asking the ultra Left organisations to prove their mettle in the battle of the ballot rather than pursuing a policy of bullets.

In a stern warning to extremists, Dr Singh said no society could pardon those who killed innocent people. “I have said this to the Hurriyat in Kashmir and to ULFA in Assam and I have said it to the Naxalites in Andhra Pradesh that there is no grievance that cannot be redressed through democratic means and through sustained dialogue."

He was speaking after inaugurating a seminar on “Press and Nation” organised by Prajashakti, a CPM Telugu daily, on the occasion of its silver jubilee celebrations.

Maintaining that democracy provided freedom to everyone to articulate his problems, the Prime Minister, however, pointed out that the government would have no option but to fight groups which took law into their hands and created terror.

Dr Manmohan Singh’s remarks came close on the heels of his party government in Andhra Pradesh clamping ban on Maoist groups.

Urging them to join the national mainstream, he said: “Go ask the people to vote for you and support you. By all means, use the media to convey your views. By all means, use the legislature to convert them into policies.”

Reiterating his commitment to providing a humane government, the Prime Minister, however, made it clear that extremism of any kind based on divisive ideology could not be tolerated in any civilised democratic society.

“I do sincerely believe that there is no grievance, howsoever extreme and desperate, that cannot be redressed through democratic means,” he said.

Pledging commitment to the freedom of the Press, the Prime Minister said it was the ultimate check against the tyranny of authority.

Stating that his government was committed to reforms in the judiciary, he said efforts were on for setting up local courts at the lowest level for speedy delivery of justice with cost effective and simplified procedures.

The Prime Minister used the occasion to shower praises on the Left parties, saying that the Communists contributed to strengthen the secular fabric of the country. “India will not remain a cohesive nation if it departs from secular ideals enshrined in the Constitution,” he said, pointing out that Left parties taught us to rise above the narrow considerations of caste and sub-caste, which had been dominating the political discourse.

Information and Broadcasting Minister S. Jaipal Reddy, Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy and CPM Politburo member Sitaram Yechuri also spoke.

IANS adds: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh expressed confidence that India would get rid of poverty in five to 10 years and would achieve its due place in the world through economic and social development.

Launching the second phase of the Andhra Pradesh Government’s land distribution scheme at Medak, 70 km from here, Dr Manmohan Singh said several new initiatives had made it possible to overcome poverty and unemployment.

“If we continue the pace of growth witnessed last year, I am confident we can get rid of poverty and unemployment in five to 10 years,” he said.

In two to three years there would also be no child out of school and all women and children in the rural areas would have access to basic health services, he said, adding that the government planned to bring 10 million hectares of land under irrigation in five years.

The Prime Minister said banks had been asked to pass on their profits to the rural areas. “This has created hopes of agriculture, the small-scale industry and the handloom sector getting bank loans,” he said.

The Prime Minister also assured the Andhra Pradesh Government that the Centre would extend all possible assistance for its massive irrigation programme.

Mr Rajasekhara Reddy had urged Dr Manmohan Singh to announce a special package for the state to help complete pending irrigation projects.

Both in his representation to the Prime Minister and during his address at the public meeting, the Chief Minister sought a Rs 250 billion package from the Centre to complete five mega irrigation projects on the Godavari to benefit the Telangana region.

However, Dr Manmohan Singh made no financial commitment.