The re-imposition of the ban on the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) in Andhra Pradesh is unlikely to have much impact as there has been a de-facto ban in place since the peace process collapsed in January, say rights activists.

What activists are most worried about is that the ban Wednesday would empower police to crack down on Maoist sympathisers providing food and shelter to guerrillas and lead to violation of civil liberties and democratic rights in rural areas.

The activists are not convinced by the government's assurance that police would not harass the common person in its anti-Maoist operations.

"There is nothing new. There has always been a de-facto ban since the Maoists launched the movement and went underground," said eminent lawyer and civil liberties activist K.G. Kannabhiran.

"Though the state government had lifted the ban, it continued to be a banned organisation under the centre's Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. So re-imposing the ban is not going to make any difference," said lawyer and rights activist Balaopal.

The re-imposition of the ban has also evoked strong criticism from the ruling Congress party's allies -- Telangana Rashtra Samiti, the CPI and the CPI-M. They said the ban would not help in finding a solution to the problem and could further precipitate matter.

Terming the ban unwise, the TRS said the government had not learnt any lesson from the past.

Urging the government to reconsider the ban, CPI-M state secretary B.V. Raghavulu expressed the apprehension that it could escalate violence and lead to harassment of innocent people.

Accusing a section of the media for eulogising Maoist activities, the state government is also trying to impose restrictions on journalists interviewing underground Maoists.

A day after Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy commented that journalists were not above the law and interviewing Maoists was a culpable offence, Home Minister K. Jana Reddy said if a journalist interviews a guerrilla the government would take action against the media organisation.

The move has evoked strong criticism from the Andhra Pradesh Union of Working Journalists, which alleged that the government was trying to suppress freedom of press.

Rajasekhara Reddy had lifted the ban on the People's War Group (PWG) on July 22 last year to facilitate first-ever direct talks with the Maoists. On the eve of the peace talks in October, the PWG merged with the Maoist Communist Centre (MCC) of Bihar to form the CPI-Maoist.

On Wednesday, it re-imposed the ban on the group and its seven frontal organisations, two days after Maoists gunned down Congress legislator C. Narsi Reddy and eight others.