Sharma hopeful but Hurriyat leaders adopt adamant posture, reject talk offer

Jammu/New Delhi, Nov 2: Though ahead of his maiden visit to Jammu and Kashmir, the newly appointed interlocutor Dineshwar Sharma exuded confidence about his intentions, the Hurriyat leaders willed otherwise.

Reacting sharply to the appointment of Dineshwar Sharma as interlocutor, the Kashmiri separatist leaders termed it as a ‘tactic to buy more time’ by the Modi government.

Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mairwaiz Umar Farooq and Mohd. Yasin Malik, all the three separatist leaders, in a joint statement on October 31 said: “for any Kashmiri to be part of this futile exercise will only undermine our internationally acknowledged legitimate and just struggle, nourished by the blood of our martyrs and great sacrifices and hardships rendered by the masses”.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Home Affairs placed Sharma in ‘Z’ category of security during his visit to militancy torn J & K. The State government would accord additional protection to him during the impending visit.

“I will go and see who all come forward for talks. I am positive about talks,” Dineshwar told a news agency in New Delhi as he braced up for his maiden visit to Jammu and Kashmir shortly.

Official sources said that top State Government leaders and officials were in touch with Dineshwar Sharma to facilitate his first visit to the State for meeting with the stakeholders. However, a final decision on first visit to J&K as the Centre’s Special Representative will be taken by Dineshwar Sharma himself after assessing the situation.

Apart from the State Government, sources said, top officials in the Ministry of Home Affairs, especially the Incharge of Jammu and Kashmir desk, were coordinating with the visit of the Special Representative on J&K, who has already been accorded status of the Cabinet Secretary, reported The Excelsior.

Dineshwar Sharma said his first visit to Jammu and Kashmir will be to understand situation in the State and create conducive atmosphere for dialogue with all stakeholders. He expressed confidence that the people of Jammu and Kashmir including the Valley will cooperate with him as nobody wants violence to become part of their life.

“The people of Kashmir will have to realize what is good for them and what is bad. Hopefully, they will come forward for talks,” Sharma said.