Calling Kashmir ‘a dispute’ is an invitation to political blackmail, say the protestors.
The three-member team of interlocutors for Jammu & Kashmir appointed by the Centre ran into a storm of protests by Kashmiri pandits, who took objection to Dilip Padgaonkar’s reported remarks calling Kashmir “a dispute”.
“Dilip Padgaonkar’s utterances terming Kashmir as a dispute is the antithesis of the state policy on Jammu and Kashmir. A situation where Kashmir is being referred to as a ‘dispute’ or a ‘problem’ by the interlocutors beforehand is an invitation to political blackmail by the anti-India forces,” said Ashwani Kumar Chrungoo, president, Panun Kashmir, an apex body of the Kashmiri Pandits in Jammu.
According to Chrungoo, Padgaonkar’s statement (to media) that `focus of this dialogue is to seek as large an area of agreement as you can to get to arrive at a comprehensive, political settlement of the Kashmir dispute’ transgresses the stated position and the unanimous parliamentary resolution of 1994 on J&K.
Padgaonkar, a veteran journalist, along with Radha Kumar and MM Ansari arrived in Srinagar on Saturday on a four-day visit to meet a cross section of people including students to address the political angle of the Kashmir dispute..
“We have heard slogans and time has come to hear the substance that could lead to the political settlement of the Kashmir issue. We want to talk to and listen to the people”, said Padgaonkar.
The visit comes against the backdrop of the separatists’ call for a boycott. Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, who spearheads the current agitation, has asked people not to meet the interlocutors.
He has urged traders, students and other groups to stay away from the team terming it an eyewash and purposeless exercise aimed at buying time.
However, the interlocutors are not losing hope and have announced that they will try and meet the separatists and listen to their point of view.
“I have said it earlier also that if they wish us to call on them, we will do it as well,” he said, adding that he has done some work in this regard already.
To start with interlocutors are meeting the students, women groups and civil society members this evening to formally kick off their mission.
Padgaonkar said the interlocutors will be visiting the state at least once a month and will submit their recommendations after each visit.
“We will be meeting the students, civil society and women groups. We will listen to the youth and try to find out what they want. Those who want to meet us are welcome,” he said.
Padgoankar underlined the need for dialogue saying it is the only way forward.
“I will reiterate that dialogue is the only way forward. Without dialogue we can’t move ahead. We have enough time to talk with the people,” he said.
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