The Centre's interlocutors on Jammu and Kashmir are hopeful of the separatist Hurriyat Conference joining the dialogue process.
“So far we are satisfied what we have been doing to break the ground on many issues by meeting common people who air the real views from governance to democracy,” one of the interlocutors Radha Kumar told The Hindu . “Obviously we need to do a lot more for implementing what we think is necessary to build confidence among the people.”
On a visit here along with the other interlocutors, Dileep Padgaonkar and M.M. Ansari, Professor Kumar said they had useful meetings with a cross-section of the people in Pulwama and Budgam districts. “We are now reviewing what we have done so far and where we stand,” she said when asked about the interim report they would be giving to the Home Ministry.
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On the situation in Kashmir, she said that compared to last year, “it looks better” but “nothing can be predicted.” “This is, however, a fact that there has been no major abuse of human rights.”
Professor Kumar noted that an important shift had taken place in Kashmir's politics in the past few months. Citing a rather “bold response” to Jamiat Ahla Hadees chief Moulana Showkat's killing in April from the moderate Hurriyat Conference and the JKLF, she said, “it is significant to see that people want truth to come out.” She referred to an earlier statement of the Hurriyat leaders Abdul Gani Bhat and Bilal Lone, who had talked about the killing of Mirwaiz Mohammad Farooq and Abdul Gani Lone in a more belligerent way. “The Hurriyat also constituted a fact-finding team. It is a welcome step towards a change,” she said. “This reflects a courageous step.”
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Citing Mirwaiz Umar Farooq's statement on Wednesday, Professor Kumar said this change in thinking and strategy “could bring them [the Hurriyat] to the [negotiation] table. So far we had been talking about governance and strengthening of democratic institutions. The way people voted in the panchayat elections signifies that they still have faith in these institutions. Now it is time to set the course for discussion on political settlement.”
Consensus needed
Professor Kumar said, “We are ready to talk to anyone and separatists surely are stakeholders in the process. They should come forward and talk. Political discussion would start with political parties. To find an area of consensus is important for a permanent solution.”
They had given number of recommendations and many of them were in the process of being implemented. “We will push for making LoC [Line of Control] trade meaningful and easing the cumbersome procedure for cross-LoC travel.”
Earlier, Mr. Padgaonkar echoed the view, saying: “We are working closely with the J&K government to ensure that calm and stability prevails in the State. We have already given some recommendations to the GoI (Government of India) and many more are in the pipeline for restoration of peace and stability in the State.”
The interlocutors, in their previous reports submitted to the Centre, had recommended release of youths and political prisoners and removal of security bunkers from the civilian areas.
“No truth in reports”
“Certain remarks about the conduct of the J&K government during last year's summer incidents in the Valley have been wrongly attributed to the interlocutors in a media report,” Mr. Padgaonkar said. “There is not an iota of truth in such reports. We have not made those remarks in any of our written or oral communications, neither officially nor even in private conversations with anybody.”