Against the popular demand from political parties for a political person to head the proposed group of interlocutors for Jammu and Kashmir, the government on Wednesday named three interlocutors, including journalist Dileep Padgaonkar, to hold sustained talks with all shades of opinion in the state.
Besides Mr Padgaonkar, information commissioner M.M. Ansari and noted academic Radha Kumar, who is said to have been part of the Track-II dialogue with Pakistan, were among the others named by Union home minister P. Chidambaram as interlocutors chosen in consultation with the state government.
Mr Chidambaram said he hoped the interlocutors “will begin a process of sustained dialogue with all sections of people in Jammu and Kashmir, especially with the youth and students”. Government sources had earlier indicated that an “eminent person”, preferably a politician, would head the group of interlocutors against the backdrop of demands raised by political parties and leaders in J&K following the all-party delegation’s visit to the state.
Senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh and two Union ministers of state, Mr Prithviraj Chavan and Mr Salman Khursheed, are believed to have been sounded, but they appeared disinterested, highly-placed sources said. Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen’s Asaduddin Owaisi had also emerged as a candidate for the post given his popularity in the Valley.
Downplaying the demand for a politician to head the group, Mr Chidambaram said the three interlocutors are “very credible people” who would begin work as early as possible. “We may add one more interlocutor at a later stage,” he added.
For the moment Mr Padgaonkar will chair the meetings of the group, which will make its first visit to the Valley by the end of this month. The interlocutors will be in Jammu and Kashmir for one week each month, sources said, adding that they are expected to complete their work within a year and submit their findings to the government. “The present interlocutors are independent persons who can talk freely to both the government and the separatists. They will not act as negotiators. They will only give their feedback to the government,” an official said.
Sources said the Centre is keen to find a fourth person, preferably a politician, to head the group. The politician could be given Cabinet rank to give him the authority to lead the group and to talk to the political leadership in J&K, including chief minister Omar Abdullah.
Government sources said the present choice of interlocutors is a concerted effort to give a “public face” to the peace initiative keeping in mind the past experience of the “quiet dialogue”, dubbed as “too quiet” by some separatist leaders.
Mr Chidambaram said the move was a clear demonstration of the seriousness of the government to find a solution to the Kashmir problem, which has been there “for many, many years”. “I would appeal to all sections of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and all shades of political opinion to engage with the interlocutors so that we can move forward on the path of finding a solution to the problem,” he said.
On why none of the interlocutors has a political background, the home minister said all of them have a “political persona” and that they have been in public life for long. The panel will cover the views of all the three regions — Jammu, Ladakh and Kashmir.
Mr Padgaonkar, responding on the government’s decision to put him on the panel, said they do not have any quick-fix solutions and will try to cover the whole ambit of political opinion to recommend steps aimed at bringing peace to the Valley. “It is a huge responsibility, we don’t have a quick-fix solution. One of our members is abroad. Once she returns we will draw up the plan and be in the state at the earliest,” Mr Padgaonkar said.
On hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani’s statement that the effort was a “futile exercise”, Mr Padgaonkar said, “India is a vast country. He is only exercising his right to freedom of expression. I have met Geelani in the past and this group will also be reaching out to him and listen to what the separatists have to say,” he added.