Sustained dialogue on Kashmir: Government should have identified stakeholders, says Congress

The Congress party has questioned the ability of an interlocutor to identify and define the stakeholders in order to initiate a sustained dialogue on Kashmir issue. The Centre on Monday appointed former Intelligence Bureau chief Dineshwar Sharma as an interlocutor for Kashmir and equipped him with all the powers to decide the stakeholders who could be part of the dialogue. 

The leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Ghulam Nabi Azad questioned Centre's move and asked how Sharma will carry forward a dialogue with all sections of the people in Jammu and Kashmir.
"How is an interlocutor going to trace the stakeholders? The government should have said that clear yesterday. Home Minister should have said yesterday who are stakeholders," he said.

Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said Dineshwar Sharma, would decide whom he engages with in Kashmir.

Asked if Sharma would hold talks with the Hurriyat Conference, as suggested by some state politicians, Singh said, "It depends upon him whom he talks to or engages with him."

"The government has decided to start a sustained dialogue in Jammu and Kashmir. Former IB director Dineshwar Sharma will be Government of India's representative. Rank of Dineshwar Sharma will be equivalent to that of a Cabinet Secretary," Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had told the media.

How is an interlocutor going to trace the stakeholders? Govt should have said that clear yesterday: Ghulam Nabi Azad,Congress on Kashmir pic.twitter.com/iyu0qsDxl1

— ANI (@ANI) October 24, 2017

He added that Sharma would initiate the dialogue with elected representatives of Jammu and Kashmir, political parties, different organisations and public.

(With ANI inputs)