Hyderabad: The distribution of land to the poor, creation of separate State for Telangana, total prohibition, self-reliance and democratic empowerment of the poor and reservation for minorities are among the issues to be raised by naxalites during their historic direct talks with Andhra Pradesh Government slated for October 15.

The contours of the Maoist agenda became clear as emissaries of People's War Group (PWG) and Janasakthi, the two important left extremist organisations, held a marathon meeting with Home Minister K Jana Reddy in Hyderabad today (Oct 5, 2004) to discuss modalities for the talks.

The PWG emissaries-- revolutionary balladeer Gaddar, writers Varavara Rao and Kalyan Rao-- and Janasakthi leader Chandranna submitted a charter of demands that will be raised by their organisations during the October 15 parleys.

Apart from Home Minister, the Municipal Administration Minister K Ranga Rao, Social Welfare Minister Reddyanaik and six Government-appointed mediators, comprising civil rights leaders, academicians and journalists, participated in the agenda-setting consultations.

Calling for a series of steps to create 'democratic environment', the extremist organisations demanded an end to what they called 'World Bank dictated economic policies', re-orientation in priorities to ensure rapid agricultural development, total prohibition, Telangana statehood, release of all political prisoners and withdrawal of cases against people who had participated in mass agitations and distribution of land to the poor.