Round-Table Revolution

And there was more than a glimmer of hope as the much-awaited PWG-Andhra government talks kicked off on June 5 in Hyderabad. At the end of the first round, which stretched over two-and-a-half hours, both sides agreed to meet again to thrash out the modalities for continuing discussions. Radical poet Varavara Rao and balladeer Gaddar will represent PWG in working out the modalities for further talks.

The peace initiative almost got hijacked with the killing of a rebel belonging to Janashakti, another Naxal group, in Karimnagar, just hours before the first round. The PWG representatives at the meeting strongly protested this "fake encounter".

Besides, the PWG has also put forward certain demands—end fake encounters and lift the ban on the group, and withdraw bounties on the heads of senior Naxal leaders so that they can participate in the negotiation process.

The government representatives didn’t commit but suggested the administration could consider a partial lifting of the ban. The cops, on the other hand, haven’t concealed their scepticism. They claim the PWG is using the peace process as a smokescreen to regroup.