Interlocutor lands in Valley today to meet stakeholders
NEW DELHI: Former Intelligence Bureau (IB) director Dineshwar Sharma, the Union government’s interlocutor for Jammu & Kashmir, is likely to set up a grievance redress mechanism when he lands in Srinagar Monday to initiate a dialogue with “all stakeholders” in the state.
Sharma, who will spend four days in Srinagar and two in Jammu, is likely to meet about three dozen groups and individuals, including student leaders, government officials said.
The issues he may hear about could range from alleged harassment by security forces to civic matters such as inadequate power supply and healthcare facilities, the officials added.
“A quick solution to a grievance may enhance the credibility of the initiative to appoint Sharma,” said a senior official involved in finalising Sharma’s agenda on his first trip to the state after being appointed as the federal government’s representative on October 24.
“Among the issues that come up could be an electricity-related problem or the lack of medical facilities in an area. Since Sharma’s job is to initiate and carry forward a dialogue, addressing grievances is an important part of the initiative,” added the official.
SRINAGAR: A day before Kashmir visit of interlocutor Dineshwar Sharma, National Conference president Farooq Abdullah said the party had “little” expectations from him.
“I have little expectations from this interlocutor. He will come and meet people. In 2010, the then UPA government had appointed a group of interlocutors who visited the state and had detailed discussions with every section here.
“The process took more than two months and after they were done with meeting people, a report was compiled. What happened to that report? Did the government discuss that report in any forum, including the Parliament? No. Instead it has been thrown into a dustbin somewhere in the North Block,” he said.
GEELANI: WILL NOT MEET DINESHWAR
Hurriyat Conference chief Syed Ali Shah Geelani said an official of state approached them for facilitating a meeting with the Centre’s special representative.
“We reject dialogue offer...It is mere rhetoric and no section of Hurriyat will meet the interlocutor or participate in this futile exercise,” the spokesman said.