Interlocutors meet PM, Sonia, to visit tomorrow
The newly-constituted group of three interlocutors on Jammu and Kashmir, which met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Thursday, said the task before them is “difficult” but they will approach everyone in the state with an “open mind and big heart”.
Eminent journalist Dileep Padgaonkar, who along with his two colleagues on the panel, academician Radha Kumar and former CIC member M.M. Ansari, said they are going to engage themselves into comprehensive talks with all shades of opinion in the troubled state.
The group is planning its maiden visit to the state on October 23. Informing this, Mr Ansari said, “We are planning to visit Jammu and Kashmir from October 23 for a week.”
The group is also expected to meet BJP leaders Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitely on Friday and will later try and meet leaders of other political parties.
Coming out of the meeting with the Prime Minister, Mr Padgaonkar said, “Dr Singh has reiterated support at the highest level. The Prime Minister asked us to talk particularly with youth and women.”
Mr Padgaonkar said the way of looking at Kashmir differs from region to region and the three-member panel will try be sensitive to all aspects. “These are difficult talks. We will be talking with an open mind and a big heart. It will be comprehensive,” he added.
Another interlocutor, Mr Radha Kumar, informed that the Prime Minister stressed on the need for finding a political solution, which is comprehensive. “He (the Prime Minister) said it (talks) must take into account aspirations of people. Dialogue should take into account previous dialogues as well those involving dissident groups, including Pak-related processes that were part of it,” she added.
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