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The People's War Group has announced a month-long ceasefire from May 10 to create a conducive atmosphere for dialogue with the Andhra Pradesh government.
This was stated by PWG state committee secretary Akkiraju Haragopal alias Ramakrishna on Tuesday.
During the ceasefire period, the PWG would stop all attacks on politicians, policemen and police informants and desist from destroying private/public properties.
The decision came following Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu's assertion on April 28 that the government was ready for a dialogue but it was for the PWG to respond.
Naidu had even questioned the sincerity of the PWG in holding talks with the government.
Following the ceasefire announcement, the PWG asked the government to reciprocate.
The PWG leader said that if the ceasefire was successful, it could be extended. He also warned that the PWG would retaliate if the government went on an offensive during the ceasefire period.
Ramakrishna pointed out that the PWG had announced a ceasefire earlier also. But the government betrayed its confidence by killing twelve of its cadres in an encounter at Tupakulagudem in Warangal district on March 11.
Regarding the modalities for the dialogue, the PWG secretary said that the government should send a group of mediators to fix the agenda. Once that was done, either the PWG would send a three-member team to hold talks with the government or invite a high-level government team led by State Home Minister T Devender Goud to the forest area.
In case the PWG leaders were called to meet the government representatives, they should be provided free passage, he said
The PWG sought the help of the democratic sections of the society, particularly the Committee of Concerned Citizens, to pressurize the government to reciprocate to the offer.
The PWG said that as part of the ceasefire, the government should put an end to fake encounters, stop combing operations and desist from arresting Naxalites.
Ramakrishna said that the PWG would discuss several important issues with the government in the proposed dialogue to end the 34-year-long problem.
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