Time for talks

AFTER much dilly-dallying over the issue of naxalites carrying weapons in their areas of operation during the peace process in Andhra Pradesh, both sides have decided to bury the hatchet temporarily and sit for talks. The People's War and the Janashakthi have submitted a joint letter to Home Minister K. Jana Reddy through their emissaries, suggesting October 13 as the date for the `direct' talks. But, the government has not confirmed the date.

Before the talks begin, the government and the emissaries are to finalise the modalities and the agenda, the venue and the question of safe passage for the underground leaders.

The government's decision not to insist on the naxalites giving up arms during the talks marks the end of a long spell of stalemate in the peace process, which was set in motion within days of the Congress returning to power in May. The government apparently allowed good sense to prevail by agreeing to include the arms issue on the agenda for the main talks. It was firmly told by the naxalites that arms were a symbol of their `cultural identity'. Some intellectuals suggested that it would be a `culture shock' to the naxalites if they were asked to shed weapons.

But the government insisted that it did not want the naxalites to carry arms during the talks because it was a Constitutional obligation. However, it also did not question the right of the groups to wage an armed struggle.