Sunday, May 22 2005 15:07 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Hyderabad: Stating that laying down of arms was not a pre-condition for talks with naxals, AICC (All India Congress Committee) general secretary Digvijay Singh today (May 22, 2005) expressed willingness of Andhra Pradesh Government to carry forward the negotiations.

"Laying down of arms is not pre-condition for talks. It's in the agenda and we are open to talks," Singh told reporters after the meeting of State election manifesto implementation committee which met in Hyderabad.

The veteran Congress leader, who is incharge of the State affairs, said that State Government initiative for talks with naxals was good and the party will always be ready for negotiations which paves way for peace in the State.

Relations between the State and Maoists were strained after the first round of talks and the State contending that naxals should shun violence while the Maoists arguing that the State should stop combing operations and fake encounters.

Singh's comments come after monitoring committee had assessed the performance of Dr Reddy's one year rule and the steps taken to implement the election promises.

"We are satisfied with the Government's performance," Singh said. Analysing further he said, "there were 158 promises from Congress during elections of which we have fulfilled 28 and 126 are under implementation while we have dropped four."