Demonstrating credibility is biggest challenge: Radha Kumar

Centre's interlocutor on Jammu and Kashmir professor Radha Kumar today said the biggest challenge before the team was to demonstrate their credibility with regard to resolution of Kashmir issue.

"Our biggest challenge is to demonstrate our credibility," Kumar told reporters at the conclusion of the team's second visit to the state.

The academician said media had a "large role to play" in maintaining the credibility of the process.

She blamed the media for questioning the credibility of the three-member team of interlocutors.

"I think you (media) are. There have been extra-ordinary and surprising comments in the media," she said in response to a question.

Kumar also denied that there was any rift within the team of interlocutors as had been reported in the media.

"There have been reports about rift in the team as Dileep Padgaonkar is not with us on this trip," she said, adding the veteran journalist was out of the country due to personal reasons.

However, when a reporter asked whether the absence of Padgaonkar reflected non-serious attitude of the team, Kumar lost her cool saying the approach of journalists was "inhuman".

"He has gone to see his grandson, whom he has not seen for a year," she said in an angry tone.