Thursday, January 27 2005 16:30 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Hyderabad: Task Force constituted by Congress Committee to study the naxal issue would submit its report to party President Sonia Gandhi on March 15, according to its Chairman M Shashidhar Reddy.

The deadline for submitting reports by the Task Force, constituted by All India Congress Committee (AICC) to study various naxal-related issues in the affected States, has been extended due to some unavoidable reasons, Reddy told reporters in Hyderabad today (Jan 27, 2005).

A decision was taken in this regard at a recent meeting, attended by senior Congress leader Ambika Soni, who is coordinating with the Task Force in the matter, he said.

Some of the Task Force members are away on visit to tsunami-affected States or to Bihar, Jharkhand and Haryana, where elections are due, which led to extension of the time-frame for submission of the report, he said.

The Task Force is yet to visit naxal-affected Orissa, Chattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, he said.

Referring to deadlock in peace talks with naxals in Andhra Pradesh, Reddy said Congress leaders felt that the talks should continue.

When asked, if other States should also initiate talks with ultras, he said, "Talks are always good. But, each naxal-affected State has a different problem," and added that "Nothing can be achieved through violence and people want peace".