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Centre's interlocutor arrives

By Our Staff Reporter

Jammu June 8. The Centre's interlocutor on Jammu and Kashmir, N.N. Vohra, arrived here this evening to start a comprehensive dialogue with various political parties of the State and socio-economic groups. Mr. Vohra is scheduled to meet around 40 representatives.

Mr. Vohra's only appointment here today was with the Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers' Party president, Bhim Singh, and his party colleagues. Speaking to reporters at the guesthouse, Prof. Singh said he stressed the need to involve all groups in the dialogue process.

"My party stand is that reorganisation of the whole State is the only viable solution. All the entities, namely Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh have a different culture and language and therefore the three entities of the State should be given a separate State status on a secular basis within the Indian union." Justifying his demand for reorganising the State, Prof. Singh said that "Even Pakistan-occupied Kashmir which was closer to the culture and language of the Jammu province should also be involved in the dialogue process. Let the people on the other side have a dialogue with the people of Jammu region," he said.

Asking Mr. Vohra to take into account the aspirations of the people of Jammu region, he said Jammu and Ladakh had been dominated by Kashmiri-based leadership for the last 50 years. It was time the Central leadership understood that Jammu had a bigger population than Kashmir.

Mr. Vohra, Prof. Singh said, should also extend an invitation to the chairman of the All-Party Hurriyat Conference. Asked about Mr. Vohra's reaction, he said there was no reaction and that Mr. Vohra simply noted down the points and gave an assurance that every region of the State would be included in the dialogue process.

Earlier, Mr. Vohra arrived here by a special plane and was accompanied by three Home Ministry officials.

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