Kurnool (AP): Under the shadow of a fresh threat from naxalites, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu today (Dec 11, 2003) gave a clarion call to people to reject extremism and to teach the Opposition Congress "a fitting lesson" in the coming Assembly polls for its alleged support to naxalites to garner political mileage.

Addressing a massive public meeting in the backward Rayalseema town of Kurnool, Naidu, who a survived an abortive assassination attempt by naxalites, made an emotional appeal to people to join him in asking naxalites to give up arms and join the social mainstream in the interest of the State.

"They (naxalites) made an attempt on my life. I do not fear death. Till the last drop of my blood, I will strive for the development of the State and welfare of my people," he said in his hour-long address focusing on extremism, "political opportunism" of Congress and "separatism" of Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) fighting for Telangana Statehood.

Naidu, who is going to early polls on the twin plank of naxalism and "obstructionist" politics of Congress, hit out at the extremists for "letting loose a reign of terror" in rural areas and pursuing an "outdated philosophy" aimed at grabbing power through the barrel of gun.

Pointing out that people in several villages were "revolting against naxalites," the Chief Minister said he was not averse to holding talks with extremists, but the experience had shown that the naxal outfit took "undue advantage" of the Government's lenient policies in the past and went about procuring arms and indulging in violent activities.

A thick security blanket was thrown around the town, with additional police reinforcements moving in from neighbouring districts in view of the reported fresh threat to the Chief Minister's life from People's War Group (PWG) extremists.

The police went through some anxious moments when some fuse wires, a portable television and some batteries were recovered near a bridge on the city outskirts, hours before Naidu was to take the route on his way to the public meeting venue.

However, the police did not find any explosive material at the site.

PTI