To

The Convener, Committee of Concerned Citizens,

We have seen your open letter to both the government and our party, published in the newspapers a couple of days ago. In fact we were about to communicate to you that we are earnestly prepared for talks and it is the duty of the government to create a congenial atmosphere. That your open letter comes out at such a situation is highly welcome.

It is already more than two weeks since the debate on talks in the state assembly even after killing of Ragya Naik, and the chief minister’s assurance on all party meeting within a week. Even after the most brutal and widely condemned fake encounter in Warangal, wood cutter Madhukar and our comrade Ilanna were killed in Adilabad and Nizamabad districts respectively. In all the North Telangana and South Telangana districts in general and Warangal and Mahabubnagar in particular, as well as in Guntur and Karnool districts, the police are giving out hit lists day in and day out.

On the other hand, we have been expressing our preparedness for talks in the recent times, particularly since May 2000, and putting our specific proposals before you and people at large. It is long since the government left the initiative in the half-way after starting a dialogue with your committee and editors.

Much blood was flown under the bridge in the meanwhile State violence grew to unprecedented levels, compared to the last 33 years, in the entire state in general and Telangana in particular. The state violence is putting the military regimes in Latin America to shame.

We, therefore, request you to not resort using expressions like "both the parties" to put the fascist government and revolutionary parties and the movement in the same bracket.

In this context, we are putting forth the following proposals on behalf our Party.

1. The government should stop all raids, arrests and encounter killings and create favourable atmosphere for talks.

2. All combing operations in villages and forests areas should be stopped forthwith Harrassing people and activists of mass organizations alleging they have relations, torturing in police stations and asking them to come to police stations without any court orders, keeping some of them hostage in the process to kill them in fake encounters should be stopped immediately.

We once again state that we are prepared for talks if the government does not indulge in raids for at least two to three months.

There is no other conditions except stopping encounter killings and attacks on people for undertaking talks.

The Chief Minister, Home Minister and Director General of Police have at times asked on whom to talk to and where and who is responsible. Our suggestion is that it would be better to talk to the leadership of our Party directly. If the government is willing to accept this proposal, the delegation would be invited to anywhere in the North Telangana or Andhra-Orissa Border or AP State Committee areas.

If the government wants to talk through mediators, we will send our Charter of Demands. We will send our further proposals based on the consequent developments and response from the government. Our preference is to have a direct dialogue with the leadership of the Party. However, we would like to bring to your notice that it would be the responsibility of the government to create such a conducive atmosphere.

January 16, 2002 (Prakash)

On behalf of Central Committee

(Ramakrishna)

On behalf of AP State Committee