The Andhra Pradesh government on Friday urged the naxalites to leave the path of violence and adopt the constitutional path and work for finding solutions to the people's problems within the country's legal framework.

In his opening remarks at the first-ever talks with the People's War and Janashakthi naxalites, home minister K Jana Reddy made an impassioned plea to the naxalites to join the mainstream and suggest solutions to the problems confronting the people and the state within the confines of the law of the land.

The two sides signed a ceasefire agreement, which will remain in force for the next three months. Though the two sides are adhering to a ceasefire declared in mid-June this year, this is the first time they have formalised the truce.

The copy of the four-page speech, delivered by Jana Reddy at the closed-door meeting with the naxalite leaders, was made available to waiting media persons at Dr Marri Channa Reddy HR Institute, the venue of the peace parleys, in the evening.

Jana Reddy, who is leading an eight-member official delegation at the talks, said that "the government hopes to create a situation where there will be no need for arms. Our constitution and law give freedom to the people to raise their problems and protest in a manner which will not disturb peace."

"The revolutionary parties should eschew the path of armed struggle and take the path of the Constitution. We want the talks to solve the people's problems. The government has neither ulterior motive nor hidden agenda in pursuing peace process. Its only aim is to usher in lasting peace and rule of law so that the aspirations of people can be fulfilled," he said.

"Even while differing with the ideology of the revolutionary parties, our government has invited you for talks with our abiding faith in democracy. We are putting forth our views freely and you can express your opinions freely and suggest solutions within the framework of the Constitution. We will hold talks to solve problems through continuous cooperation," he added.

The naxalite leaders took exception to the government going ahead with the construction of Pulichintala irrigation project , which, they contended, would harm the interests of the people of backward Telangana region and stabilise the delta in the agriculturally rich coastal belt. Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhar Reddy has laid the foundation stone for the multi-billion rupee project on Friday. The Home Minister assured to convey their sentiments to the Chief Minister.

The talks between the government representatives and leaders and emissaries of Communist Party of India (Maoist) (earlier known as People's War) and CPI-Marxist-Leninist Janashakti began at around 11am and continued till Friday evening. Apart from the six-member CPI-Maoist delegation and five-member Janashakti team, eight mediators are also participating in the in-camera talks, which will be resumed on Saturday and go on for a couple of days in the first round.