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| Interlocutors arrive for third trip, to focus on border areas | | Cautious on comments, say they will only register views | | ET REPORT
Jammu, Dec 17: The interlocutors appointed by the Central Government to talk to a cross section of society and various communities in three different regions of J&K reached here today to seek out various shades of opinion, this time in the border areas of Jammu and a brief visit to Srinagar. The interlocultors are on third visit to state beginning today. Earlier, during their two visits they talked to all concerned and major stakeholders in Kashmir Valley followed by their second visit to Ladakh region.
The three-member panel is headed by journalist Dileep Padgaonkar but only two of them -Padgaonkar along and Central Information Commissioner M.M. Ansari arrived here today. The academician Radha Kumar is likely to join them tomorrow for the third trip. They will wind up their visit on December 23 following which they the likely to submit the 'broad contours' for a political settlement to the Kashmir issue.
During its seven-day visit commencing today, the group will visit several district headquarters like Jammu, Rajouri, Poonch, Doda and Srinagar and interact with people and organisations cutting across party lines to take their views on a lasting solution to the Kashmir issue. ''During our three-day stay in Jammu, we will meet different sections of the people and also visit Rajouri, and Poonch districts to review the situation in these border districts besides meeting the Chief Minister,'' Padgaonkar told reporters on his arrival at Circuit House today.
Interestingly, the interlocutors rubbished a media report that they had criticised the Omar Abdullah government and self-rule, saying they were here to fulfil their mandate and not to pass judgments.
"We are here to fulfil our mandate and not to pass judgments. No such words have been said by me," Kashmir interlocutor and eminent journalist Dileep Padgaonkar told reporters on their arrival.
Flanked by another interlocutor and former central information commissioner MM Ansari, he said, "I have not said self-rule is better than autonomy. No judgement has been passed on either of the two." It may be mentioned that his remarks came against the backdrop of reports that he had praised the contents of self-rule document.
Padgaonkar said even as the visit is in context with the Kashmir situation primarily but assessment of the opinions from other parts is also vital. However, he refused to comment on the present political situation in state. The agenda of their third visit primarily includes visit to the border districts and some far off areas of Jammu region but before leaving for Poonch district tomorrow, they would first meet the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to have an assessment of the situation prevailing at present across the state. They would also interact with some security officials in order to have some understanding and assessment of the security situation, sources said. In border areas the interlocutors are scheduled to meet representatives of mainstream political parties and various other organizations.
According to the schedule for third trip to state, the interlocutors would leave for Rajouri on December 19 and return to Jammu on December 20 and meet different delegations before leaving for Srinagar on December 21, sources added.
The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, appointed the three-member panel on October 13 to ascertain the cross section of opinions, including separatists. Radha Kumar, one of the three interlocutors appointed by the Central Government, had on November 14 said that dialogue with key stakeholders is vital for permanent solution of Kashmir issue.
"Most people agree that such a settlement will not be achievable without changes on the ground which will enable a lasting dialogue with key stake holders towards a permanent settlement," said Radha Kumar during the three-member panel''s second visit to Jammu and Kashmir.
"We have also appealed to the State Government that they should ask security forces to exercise maximum restrain," she added.
The three interlocutors had submitted their first report to Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram on November 2. They gave a list of recommendations to the government on Kashmir which they said can’t be made public. They also maintained that they would continue making regular trips to Kashmir to keep the dialogue going. |
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