Kashmir interlocutor Dineshwar Sharma under ‘Z’ security to visit Valley on Monday

New Delhi, Nov 02 (Only Kashmir): The recently appointed special representative on Jammu and Kashmir Dineshwar Sharma under the security cover of ‘Z’ category will begin his six-day visit to Srinagar from Monday.
The former Intelligence Bureau director as per the sources is likely to start his itinerary by meeting students and youth delegations in Srinagar for four days and will leave for Jammu after that to meet various groups and individuals for the next two days.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Centre accorded ‘Z’ category armed security cover to Dineshwar Sharma, besides a pilot and escort vehicle will secure his convoy. He is likely to be accompanied by Union home ministry officials dealing with the state.

The government has allotted office space for Sharma in the NDCC building opposite Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. Sources said it was yet to be decided if he would have an office in Srinagar too. Following his appointment, Sharma was briefed by the ministry’s joint secretary (J-K) Gyanesh Kumar about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s package for the state and other issues.
On October 23, for the first time after coming to power the Narendra Modi led union government 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.
Immediately after his appointment, Sharma had called on the PM and the home minister. Besides, he also held meetings with J&K CM Mehbooba Mufti and governor NN Vohra.

On October 31, breaking the silence over the appointment of Kashmir interlocutor by Government of India Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) comprising of Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Fraooq and Muhammmad Yasin Malik ruling out the talks with Sharma termed the appointment “nothing more than a tactic” after its “failure” of “military repression”.