After 14 years, a Naxalite rally in Hyderabad

Hyderabad

Naxalites of the People's War group on Thursday organised a massive rally in the midst of efforts to revive peace talks.

Holding red flags and dancing to the tunes of revolutionary songs, hundreds of sympathisers and members of PWG's frontal organisations, mobilised from across Andhra Pradesh, marched through the streets as party of the rally.

The rally commenced at Indira Park and will culminate in a public meeting at the sprawling Nizam College grounds later in the evening.

Also Read The Naxalite threat AP govt invites Naxalites for talks AP govt won't renew ban on Naxalites

The PWG emissaries in the ongoing negotiations with the Congress-led government - revolutionary balladeer Gadar, writers Varavara Rao and Kalyan Rao - are expected to address the meeting, the first by Naxalites in the city in 14 years.

Savouring a new sense of freedom following lifting of the ban in July last, the PWG has been organising a series of public meetings across the state, starting with Warangal in the Telangana region, to press their agenda and mainly focussing on their right to carry weapons.

Though the government had last week invited PWG and Janashakti Naxalite leaders for direct talks on October 2, the process is likely to be delayed as left extremist organisations were busy making arrangements for the meeting.

The talks are likely to be held in the second week of October, according to Varavara Rao, a key player in the ongoing negotiations with the government.