New Delhi, Oct 23 (Only Kashmir): For the first time after coming to power the Narendra Modi led union government Monday appointed an interlocutor to hold talks with stake-holders of Jammu and Kashmir. The announcement was made by Home Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi. J&K Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti in a tweet welcomed the initiative for leading a sustained dialogue.
Rajnath Singh announced that the government has decided to start a sustained dialogue on Kashmir. Former Intelligence Bureau director Dineshwar Sharma has been appointed as the representative of the government to initiate dialogue in the insurgency-hit state, the Union Home Minister said.
“As a Representative of Government of India, former Director of IB, Dineshwar Sharma will initiate a sustained interaction and dialogue to understand legitimate aspirations of people in Jammu and Kashmir,” Singh said.
While responding to a question, Singh said that the interlocutor was appointed to keep the word of the Prime Minister who from the parapets of Red Fort had said that bullets are not going to solve in problem.
Singh said that it is up to interlocutor to see whom he has to approach and talk.
Meanwhile welcoming the initative of union government J&K Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti took to the social networking site Twitter.
“Welcome the initiative of Union Government, appointing an interlocutor for leading a sustained dialogue with stakeholders in Jammu & Kashmir,” She said.
Welcome the initiative of Union Government, appointing an interlocutor for leading a sustained dialogue with stakeholders in Jammu & Kashmir.
— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) October 23, 2017
In her reaction to the development, the Chief Minister said it has been her firm belief that sustained dialogue with all stakeholders in the State is the only way forward to get Jammu & Kashmir out of the vicious cycle of uncertainty, acrimony and violence. Mehbooba Mufti added that Agenda of Alliance of the present Government has also committed to working for sustained dialogue in the State for which the present Government is working. Pertinently, Dineshwar Sharma, a Bihar-born, Kerala-cadre Indian Police Service officer of the 1976 batch, was the chief of the Intelligence Bureau who was succeeded by Rajiv Jain.
Meanwhile talking to ANI, Dineshwar Sharma said It’s a big responsibility, hope I live up to expectations.
