Maoists should emulate their groups in Nepal: Jana Reddy

Hyderabad, July 24 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Home Minister K Jana Reddy today said the Maoists in the state should emulate the attitude of the Maoists in Nepal and added that the government was always ready for peace talks with them.

Talking to newspersons here, Mr Reddy said Maoists in Nepal were trying to be part of the government and urged the Maoists in the state to shun violence and join the mainstream.

''It is unfortunate that the peace talks in 2004 failed and we still hope to hold talks with them. We see Naxal menace as a socio-economic problem and not as one of law and order,'' he said.

Stating that the government was not treating the encounters as victory over Naxalsm, he said the encounters were only happening as part of law and order maintenance.

''Whenever the naxalite ideology to fight for the oppressed classes has taken a backseat and their violence prevailed, the police were reacting to maintain law and order,'' he added.

Asked about police targeting Naxal leaders after peace talks, Mr Reddy said the police did not know how Madhav alias Chennayya Goud looked like. The police should seek the help of surrendered Naxals to identify Madhav. In this scenario, how can police know who is in a group before encounter, he questioned.

UNI ASJ JJ RL RK2010