[The move, which Chidambaram said was a “clear demonstration of the seriousness on the part of the government of India” to solve the problems that have been there “for many, many years”, comes in the wake of renewed unrest in Kashmir Valley in the last four months which left nearly 100 people dead.]
PADGAONKAR HEADS KASHMIR PANEL
Himalayan News Service
The other two members of the committee are Information Commissioner M M Ansari and academician Radha Kumar.
Two of the three new interlocutors were involved in the
Radha Kumar, who heads the Nelson Mandela Institute of Peace in Jamia Millia Islamia, was engaged in back-channel discussions with moderate Hurriyat chief Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and hardliner Syed Ali Shah Geelani. She was in the valley recently and had visited Geelani at a hospital in
Announcing the appointments at a news conference here Home Minister P Chidambaram said three “very credible people” have been appointed as interlocutors on
He said the government hoped the interlocutors would “begin a process of sustained uninterrupted dialogue with all sections of people of
Asked why the panel included no political person, Chidambaram said they “have a political persona”.
“All of them are well known to the people of
The move, which Chidambaram said was a “clear demonstration of the seriousness on the part of the government of India” to solve the problems that have been there “for many, many years”, comes in the wake of renewed unrest in Kashmir Valley in the last four months which left nearly 100 people dead.
The decision to have a new group of interlocutors was taken at the Cabinet Committee on Security meeting chaired by Prime Manmohan Singh last month. Restarting peace talks in
Without naming separatist leaders, Chidambaram urged the politicians of
The group will cover the views of all the three regions —
[Echoing similar views, Prof Hari Om, a former Head of the Department of History, Jammu University
By Dinesh Manhotra
The groups argued that the government ought to have decided on the recommendations of previous committees before making the appointments.
“What has happenned to the recommendations of earlier interlocutors and committees constituted by the Centre from time-to-time for fulfilling people’s aspirations?” asked Panthers Party leader Harsh Dev Singh, and added “they were most probably just gathering dust”.
Harsh also questioned the credibility of the three experts appointed by the government. “Are they aware of the geography, topography, ethnicity, languages and other aspects of the state?” he asked and wondered “I don’t think these appointments would serve any purpose”.
Echoing similar views, Prof Hari Om, a former Head of the Department of History, Jammu University
The groups opined that instead of the appointment of new interlocutors, the government should look into recommendations of earlier committees. “With much publicity, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had appointed working groups, but no action has been taken on the recommendations of these working groups”, Harsh Dev Singh said, and regretted that instead of addressing aspirations of the people, the government was taking “ridiculous” steps.
“I don’t think there is any reason to appoint new interlocutors before giving political power to the Jammu Jammu University
He, however, suggested that functioning of these interlocutors should not be confined only to the Valley.Rather the aspirations of the people of Jammu
The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) observed that such exercises were aimed at just diverting the government’s failure. “The government should take steps that have some positive impact,” argued Surinder Choudhary, general secretary of BSP.
Jammu State Morcha leader Anil Gour said, “Let us see how these interlocutors would work”. He, too, sounded not optimistic about them.
@ The Tribune
@ The Tribune
[JKLF chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik pointed out that there was need to address the issue politically which could have been possible only with the appointment of political leaders as interlocutors. Referring to his meeting with the parliamentary delegation, Malik said he had conveyed to the delegation the significance of the political nature of the Kashmir problem.]
By Ehsan Fazili
Srinagar, October 13 The hardline faction of the Hurriyat Conference led by Syed Ali Geelani today described the Centre’s appointment of a three-member team of interlocutors on Jammu and Kashmir as a futile move, while the moderate faction, led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, chose to be cautious.
Describing the appointment of the three interlocutors — Dilip Padgaonkar, M.M Ansari and Radha Kumar — as a futile exercise, Geelani said India Kashmir issue. He said the party would not enter into any dialogue with the Centre unless its five-point proposal was accepted by the Central Government. He had put forth the formula in August before joining the dialogue process for resolving the issue. The five conditions included accepting Kashmir as a dispute, withdrawal of troops from Jammu and Kashmir, revocation of special powers to the security forces, unconditional release of all those arrested and action against those involved in the Macchil encounter.
However, the moderate faction of the Hurriyat Conference, led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, chose to be cautious in its approach with the Mirwaiz saying that he would discuss the issue with his colleagues at a meeting of the executive council of the party. He said it was a political problem and his faction had sought the appointment of political leaders as interlocutors.
JKLF chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik pointed out that there was need to address the issue politically which could have been possible only with the appointment of political leaders as interlocutors. Referring to his meeting with the parliamentary delegation, Malik said he had conveyed to the delegation the significance of the political nature of the Kashmir problem.
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