Home Minister P. Chidambaram on Wednesday said the three interlocutors on Kashmir will begin the process of “sustained uninterrupted dialogue” with all shades of opinion to resolve the Kashmir problem.
He said eminent journalist Dilip Padgaonkar, Information Commissioner M.M. Ansari and academician Prof Radha Kumar have been appointed as interlocutors for Kashmir talks in pursuant to the decision of the Cabinet Committee on Security.
“We hope that they will begin a process of sustained uninterrupted dialogue with all sections of people of Jammu and Kashmir, especially with youths and students and all shades of political opinion,” he told reporters here.
Mr. Chidambaram said the move was a clear demonstration of the seriousness of the government of India to find a solution to the Kashmir problem which has been there “for many, many years”.
“I would appeal to all sections of people of Jammu and Kashmir and all shades of political opinion to engage with the interlocutors so that we can move forward on the path of finding a solution to the problem,” he said.
Asked why none of the interlocutors has a political background, the Home Minister said all of them have a political persona and they have been in public life for long and all of them are well known to the people of India.
“All of them are engaged in work which is in public domain and we think they are very credible people, people with a good track record and they can begin their work as early as possible and I am sure they will start their work as early as possible,” he said
Mr. Chidambaram said government may add another interlocutor later.
