Andhra Pradesh: Talking Peace

Talking Peace Any talks between the state and groups that have sworn to overthrow the government are welcome. Even when the two sides hold positions that seem beyond compromise there is a lot more to be said for discussions across a table than acts of violence and counter-violence. That is why the first round of talks between the government of Andhra Pradesh and two Naxalite groups has evoked considerable optimism in the state. True, the talks, lasting more than a week, did not yield tangible results. And the Naxalites, for all their reputation for violence, revealed that they were far more adept than the state government in seizing the initiative in setting the agenda for negotiations. Yet, none of this has made either the participants or the larger population pessimistic about the final outcome. This is perhaps indicative of how much hope there is that the very act of