Dropping broad hints at engaging separatists, Government of India (GoI) special representative on Kashmir Dineshwar Sharma on Wednesday said he “will try to meet Hurriyat leaders too”, as he met the National Conference (NC) and other parties in Srinagar.
“I will try my best to meet Hurriyat leaders,” said Mr. Sharma, when asked by reporters if he was ready to walk the extra mile.
Concluding his three-day maiden visit to Srinagar, Mr. Sharma met with former Chief Minister and National Conference working president Omar Abdullah. Mr. Sharma is likely to visit Jammu for two days.
“We discussed the prevailing situation and also the steps that can be taken to make his visit to J&K more meaningful,” said Mr. Abdullah. He said that sitting at a guest house and waiting for people to come over and meet him won’t yield results.
In a joint press statement, CPI(M) MLA M.Y. Tarigami, Peoples Democratic Front chief Hakim Yaseen and Democratic Party Nationalist head Ghulam Hassan Mir said they put forth demands “to create a conducive atmosphere for meaningful dialogue”.
They said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should assure the people of Jammu & Kashmir that Article 370 and Article 35-A would be safeguarded, through a statement on the floor of Parliament, cases of those detained for political reasons reviewed, and cases against youth involved in unrest withdrawn.
“Only serious, credible and meaningful dialogue with all stakeholders will help. The onus of restoring credibility to the dialogue process is on New Delhi,” said Mr. Tarigami.
They warned that “contradictory voices emerging from different power centres were adding to the already existing confusion and disillusionment here”.
‘No shortcuts’
Independent MLA Engineer Rashid said he told Mr. Sharma that “there are no shortcuts to resolve the J&K dispute”.
He also demanded “unconditional release of political prisoners, including Masrat Alam, Aasiya Andrabi, and Qasim Faktoo”.
The ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) vice-president Sartaj Madni also met the interlocutor.
“The PDP referred to the initiatives taken by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 2003. We reminded the interlocutor about the trust deficit that impedes any good initiative for peace and resolution. The Centre should do everything possible to gain the confidence of people and stakeholders to sustain the process of dialogue,” said Mr. Madni.
He said he told Mr. Sharma that the “dialogue process should be seen as a sincere and honest effort to address issues than a mere response to violence“.
