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Syed Amin Jafri in Hyderabad
Revolutionary writer Varavara Rao on Tuesday alleged that the decision of the government to extend the ban on the People's War for another year was part of its strategy to mount an all-out offensive against the Naxalites, even while showing 'readiness' to continue the talks.
Speaking to rediff.com, Varavara Rao said the Cabinet decision to continue the ban, five days ahead of the proposed fourth round of talks with the People's War, exposed the government's 'duplicity' on the Naxalite issue.
"On one hand, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Home Minister T Devender Goud said the government was eager to continue the talks. On the other hand, they had given a green signal to the police to prepare for a major counter-offensive against the PW," he said.
"Right from the beginning of the talks on June 5, the government's approach has been negative, which goes against the spirit of the dialogue. Encounter killings restarted on the same day when the talks began on June 5. Till June 20, when the third round of talks was held, the encounters were confined to other ML [Marxist-Leninist] groups and so-called thieves and bandits," he said.
Varavara Rao said that on June 20, the People's War conveyed through balladeer Gaddar and himself that the underground leaders would come for talks on July 20. The government got panicky and the police started killing PW cadres, he claimed.
Talking about PW leader Padmakka, who was killed by the police along with her associates, he said, "Padmakka was one of the PW leaders who decided to have dialogue with the government. She was among those who would have come for talks. This was the reason why she was eliminated in an encounter," he claimed.
Asked if the PW leadership would come for talks on July 20, Varavara Rao said, "So far the PW has not said anything about the future of the talks. The PW has been showing restraint since May 10 (when it declared a ceasefire) till today despite the loss of 10 of its cadres and leaders in encounters."
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