Interlocutor Dineshwar Sharma meets over 60 delegations in Kashmir; describes meeting positive and encouraging

Srinagar, December 27: The central government’s interlocutor for Kashmir Dineshwar Sharma who arrived Srinagar on Monday for his third visit to the state met over 60 delegations. After the meeting, Dineshwar Sharma described the meetings with the people in north Kashmir as very positive and encouraging.

 

After reaching Srinagar, Dineshwar Sharma headed for north Kashmir’s Kupwara and Baramulla districts to meet various delegations as part of holding sustained dialogue in Kashmir. During his two days stay in north Kashmir, Dineshwar Sharma met over 60 delegations in Kupwara and Baramulla districts.

Dineshwar Sharma met 32 delegations from various areas of Baramulla district while 29 other stakeholders called on central government’s interlocutor in Kupwara district. While talking to media Dineshwar Sharma described the meetings with the people in north Kashmir as very positive and encouraging.

He further added that he got feedback about all kinds of issues that will help him understand all facets of Kashmir situation and probable solution to the issues. Importantly, representatives from mainstream political parties including PDP, Awami Ittehad Party and Congress as well as college students from Baramulla district, youth representatives and members of minority communities of Sikh and Kashmiri Pandits had interaction with Centre’s interlocutor.

This was his third visit to the valley after being appointed as the interlocutor by Home Minister Rajnath Singh on October 23 of this year for holding sustained dialogue with stakeholders in Jammu and Kashmir to bring stability and peace. Earlier, during his two visits, top separatist leaders, civil society members and traders in Kashmir refused to meet the interlocutor.

Dineshwar Sharma is the person behind granting of amnesty to stone pelters. After his recommendation, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti announced to relieve 4237 first time stone pelters in Kashmir.

BACKGROUND:

Home Minister Rajnath Singh in the month of October said that the central government has decided to start a sustained dialogue in Jammu and Kashmir, with former Intelligence Bureau director Dineshwar Sharma appointed as the Centre’s representative.

Dineshwar Sharma, a Bihar-born, Kerala-cadre Indian Police Service officer of the 1979 batch was the chief of the Intelligence Bureau. Sharma has a wide range of experience in handling separatism and insurgencies to domestic and regional politics. He has also served in a wide variety of command and staff positions in various Police, Paramilitary and Intelligence agencies.