The UPA government is likely to put the Kashmir interlocutors report on the backburner for the time being. Highly-placed home ministry sources said the government is in no hurry to implement the report, particularly some of its key recommendations, as these could have significant political ramifications.
Importantly, the government is in no mood to take any chances that could adversely affect the Centre-state relations. Already there are sharp differences between the home ministry and the J&K government over the withdrawal of controversial AFSPA. Thus, no hasty decision is expected on the interlocutors report.
The government, sources added, is reluctant to constitute a constitutional committee to review all acts and articles of the Constitution extended to J&K. Ministry sources also claimed that the government so far is not favourable to alter the current provisions of the Article 370.
In fact, formation of a Constitutional Committee and an appraisal of Article 370 are the key recommendations on the committee. In the present context the home ministry is also not inclined to re-examine the sharing of administrative and financial powers between the Centre and State.
Top home ministry officials claimed that there was a growing view within the government that at a time when the Valley was witnessing one of the most peaceful summer for the second year in the running there was no need to rake up a fresh controversy.
The Centre is also not too keen that the panel of names for the governor, as suggested by the committee, should be forwarded by the state. The home ministry is of the view that as long as the Valley is facing militancy the governor should be appointed by the Centre as this key post has more to do with security rather than politics.
“Even though there are hardly any political recommendations in the report. But even on the administrative front there are certain contentious proposals which can trigger an unnecessary controversy,’’ a senior ministry official remarked.