AP Govt talks with Left on 'Bhooporatam' fail

Hyderabad, July 3 (UNI) The third round of talks between Andhra Pradesh Revenue Minister D Prasada Rao and leaders of the CPI and CPI(Marxist) held here today failed to break the deadlock over land struggle, with both sides sticking to respective positions.

Emerging out of the three-hour talks from the Minister's chambers, CPI State Secretary K Narayana and CPI(M) Secretary and Politburo Member B V Raghavulu told reporters that ''Bhooporatam'' would be intensified to ensure justice to the poor.

Charging the Left with politicising the issue while maintaining silence during the previous TDP regime, the Minister, during the talks, urged the Left to give up the stir as the government was committed to distribute land to the poor, official sources said.

The Minister told the delegates the State Cabinet, in its next meeting, would work out the modalities of implementing the Koneru Ranga Rao Committee Report.

Failing to extract any concrete assurance from the government, the Left leaders said party activists would plant red flags on all lands ''encroached'' upon by 'influential persons in connivance with revenue officials.' The Left's 12-point charter of demands included constitution of committees by the government to implement the Koneru Ranga Rao report, addressing problems on housing for the poor and holding a fresh survey to ascertain the status of lands occupied by the activists as part of the ''Bhooporatam.'' UNI SM VA RN ND1624