In a reversal of its earlier stand, the Centre on Monday announced the appointment of former Intelligence Bureau (IB) chief Dineshwar Sharma as a “special representative” to initiate and “carry forward a dialogue” with the elected representatives, various organisations and concerned individuals in Jammu and Kashmir.
The last time such an exercise was held was in 2010 when the then UPA government appointed a group of three interlocutors to hold sustained dialogue with all sections of people in J&K. Soon after the BJP-led NDA government came to power, on September 23, 2014 Mr. Singh had ruled out the appointment of any interlocutor for J&K saying it was a “non productive” practice.
At a hurriedly convened press conference on Monday, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said on Monday that the, “Centre has shown conviction and consistency on Kashmir issue and carrying forward this policy, we have decided to begin a sustained dialogue policy for J&K.”
Responding to a question on whether Mr. Sharma would have talks with the Hurriyat Conference, the Minister said he hold the rank of a Cabinet Secretary and would have complete independence in deciding who to hold talks with.
Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Independence Day address, Mr. Singh said the government was sensitive to issues related to J&K.
