Rajnath Singh (Reuters)
Home Minister Rajnath Singh today made a major announcement while addressing the media in the national capital and said that the Centre has decided to start a sustained dialogue in Jammu and Kashmir. Rajnath also announced that former Intelligence Bureau director Dineshwar Sharma has been appointed as the Centre’s representative or interlocutor. Singh added that Sharma’s rank will be equivalent to that of a Cabinet Secretary. “As a representative of GoI, Dinesh Sharma will initiate sustained interaction and dialogue to understand legitimate aspirations of people in J&K,” he said. On being asked whether the talks with Hurriyat leaders will be on the agenda, Rajnath Singh made it clear that the government is going to engage all political parties and stakeholders to ensure that peace is restored in the Valley. He added that Dineshwar Sharma will have the right to engage whatever parties he wishes to.
Here are all the Live Updates:
6:48 pm: Sharma has previously served in Nagaland, Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi and Lucknow in various capacities.
6:42 pm: As a Representative of Government Of India Sharma will initiate a sustained interaction and dialogue to understand legitimate aspirations of ppl in Jammu and Kashmir said Rajnath Singh.
6:35 pm: The Prime Minister’s statement had clearly underlined our government’s policy and intention towards Jammu and Kashmir, Rajnath added.
6:30 pm: From the ramparts of Red Fort PM had said, “Neither by bullet, nor by abuses but by embracing the people we can solve the problems in J&K, said Home Minister.
6:25 pm: Former Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari said appointment of interlocutor in J&K is indicative that realists in government have prevailed over hawks. Hard Power is not an end but means towards an end
6:16 pm: Congress said today that the Centre appointing a representative to initiate dialogue with all stakeholders in Jammu and Kashmir indicated that “realists” in the government had prevailed over “hawks.”
6:10 pm: The Prime Minister’s statement had clearly underlined our government’s policy and intention towards Jammu and Kashmir, said Rajnath Singh.
6:07 pm: He added,”From “No talks” to “Talks with all stakeholders” is a major victory for those who had strongly argued for a political solution in J&K.”
From “No talks” to “Talks with all stakeholders” is a major victory for those who had strongly argued for a political solution in J&K.
— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) October 23, 2017
6:03 pm: Meanwhile, former Finance Minister and Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram took at dig at BJP’s initiative. He said,”With appointment of interlocutor, I hope government has finally admitted ‘muscular approach’ has failed in J&K.”
With appointment of interlocutor, I hope government has finally admitted ‘muscular approach’ has failed in J&K.
— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) October 23, 2017
5:59 pm: This dialogue initiative is in line with P.M @narendramodi ‘s 15th August speech ‘na goli se, na gaali se, Kashmir ki samasya suljhegi gale lagaane se’, said Jammu and Kashmir CM Mehbooba Mufti.
This dialogue initiative is in line with P.M @narendramodi ‘s 15th August speech ‘na goli se, na gaali se, Kashmir ki samasya suljhegi gale lagaane se’.
— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) October 23, 2017
5:51 pm: Dineshwar Sharma is a 1979-batch (retired) officer of the Indian Police Service, served as the IB director between December 2014 and 2016. Sharma will decide whom he wants to hold talks with, Singh said when asked whether he would have a dialogue with the Hurriyat Conference.
5:47 pm: One can’t get everything. So for now, we’ll take what we can get. More important than the person is the mandate and absence of pre-conditions, said Abdullah.
5:45 pm: What does this mean for the NIA investigation in J&K? Will investigation be suspended to facilitate dialogue with detained Hurriyat leaders? Centre’s move on a dialogue was a resounding defeat for those who saw force as the only solution to Kashmir issue, said Abdullah.
What does this mean for the NIA investigation in J&K? Will investigation be suspended to facilitate dialogue with detained Hurriyat leaders? http://t.co/zcNYVu7lso
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) October 23, 2017
5:43 pm: Omar Abdullah also took to Twitter and said, the acceptance of the political nature of the Kashmir issue is a resounding defeat of those who could only see use of force as a solution.
5:40 pm: Centre announces an interlocutor to engage with stake holders in J&K. Will keep an open mind and wait to see results of the dialogue process, said Omar Abdullah.
5:37 pm: The National Conference (NC) leader also sought to know the implications of the move on the NIA investigations into the terror funding cases in the Valley.
5:33 pm: Omar Abdullah said that the acceptance of the political nature of the issue was a defeat of those who saw force as a solution.
The acceptance of the political nature of the #Kashmir issue is a resounding defeat of those who could only see use of force as a solution.
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) October 23, 2017
5:28 pm: Jammu and Kashmir CM Mehbooba Mufti welcomed the decision and said,”Welcome the initiative of Union Government, appointing an interlocutor for leading a sustained dialogue with stakeholders in Jammu & Kashmir. Dialogue is a necessity of the hour and the only way to go forward.”
5:25 pm: In a big decision, the Central government gave former IB Director Dineshwar Sharma the responsibility to initiate talks with the elected representatives of Jammu and Kashmir, political parties, different organisations and people.
