Bandi Sanjay Rules Out Talks with Maoists

Karimnagar: Union minister of state for home affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar ruled out peace talks with banned Maoist groups and dared the Congress government to lift the ban.

Speaking at an inauguration ceremony of a Hanuman statue in Kothapalli mandal of Karimnagar district on Sunday, he said that there is no question of talks with Maoists. “Talks with a banned organisation is not an option. They must lay down arms, surrender to the police and change their behaviour,” he said.

He slammed Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and BRS chief K. Chandrashekar Rao for suggesting that the Maoist issue should be seen from a social perspective. “These are the same Maoists who have planted landmines, killed BJP leaders, officers, journalists and left families devastated. How can you view murders of innocent tribals and police personnel as a social issue,” he asked.

“Tribals do not carry guns or bombs. The violence is solely perpetrated by the banned Maoist groups. That is why the Congress itself had originally imposed the ban on Maoists and now the same party speaks about peace talks? Do they have the courage to lift the ban?" he wondered.

Sanjay Kumar said the Centre has already instructed states to identify and deport foreigners without passports or visas and urged the Telangana government to act seriously, warning that the state, particularly Hyderabad, could become a haven for terrorists if illegal Rohingya migrants are not dealt with promptly

“The Congress-BRS alliance is trying to divert attention of the people from real issues like failure to implement six guarantees and shielding corrupt BRS leaders. Both parties are now competing to hold talks with Maoists instead of addressing people’s issues,” he alleged.