Telangana: People’s Orgs, Left parties urge Centre to hold peace talks with Maoists

Say violence has been increasing in bloodstained Bastar forests of Chhattisgarh for the past few months

Warangal/Khammam: Even as security forces were continuing a massive offensive against Maoists in Karregutta forests, different political parties and people’s organisations demanded that the State and Central governments hold peace talks with Maoists.

Speaking to the media in Hanamkonda on Saturday, rights activists Prof G Haragopal, MF Gopinath, Inna Reddy, Dr Tirupathaiah, M Vengal Reddy, J Kumara Swamy, Ramesh Chander and others said violence has been increasing in bloodstained Bastar forests in Chhattisgarh for the past few months.

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Though the Maoist leadership appealed to the governments to announce ceasefire and hold peace talks, the Centre and State governments, on the pretext of a decisive fight against Maoists, deployed thousands of security personnel in the forests of Karregutta in Telangana and Chhattisgarh.

Since January 1, 400 innocent adivasis and Maoists were killed in encounters by the governments in violation against the constitutional values. The Supreme Court also found fault with the killing of Indian citizens by the Indian security forces, they said.

They demanded the immediate halt of Operation Kagar and firing by security forces in Karregutta forests. The government should come forward for peace talks with Maoists, they added.

In Khammam, CPI (M), CPI, CPI (ML) New Democracy, Telangana Jana Samithi, Aam Aadmi Party, BSP and Telangana Peoples JAC leaders have taken out a rally with similar demands. It was undemocratic for soldiers who should be on the country’s borders to fight against the country’s enemies, were fighting against the tribals in Dandakaranya forests, said CPI (M) district secretary N Nageswara Rao.

Corporate powers and multinational companies were preventing the governments from holding peace talks with Maoists. The Centre should announce a ceasefire and hold peace talks, the leaders demanded.