Hyderabad: Formally inviting the People's War Group (PWG) naxalites for talks, the new Congress Government in Andhra Pradesh today (June 8, 2004) said a Conciliation Committee would be constituted to work out modalities of the dialogue process after receiving the response from the extremists.

The announcement by the state Home Minister K Jana Reddy came in the backdrop of a series of initiatives taken by the Government, including withdrawal of rewards on naxalites, to create conducive atmosphere for reviving the stalled talks.

The Minister urged PWG to respond positively to the Government's initiatives to find a lasting solution.

"Naxalites should come forward with their agenda and demands to pave way for preparing the ground for talks," the Minister told reporters here after a meeting with the representatives of the Committee for Concerned Citizens (CEC), an independent group of civil rights leaders, academicians and journalists, which called on him.

Asked whether the Government has received any response from PWG on resumption of talks, Reddy evaded a direct reply and said: "Ever since our Government announced its keenness to revive talks, the situation across the state is by and large peaceful except one or two minor incidents involving naxals.

It shows that they (naxals) have accepted our appeal."