By Manoj Khar, Agence India Press,
New Delhi: The newly-appointed interlocutors for Jammu and Kashmir eminent journalist Dileep Padgaonkar, noted academician Radha Kumar and former CIC member M M Ansari – met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday.
The interlocutors have been appointed to hold talks with all shades people across the Valley including the separatists as a part of the eight-point peace formula by the government.
“We’ve just had a meeting with the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister reiterated the support of the government and of the political leadership at the highest levels for the work that has been entrusted to us,” said eminent journalist Dileep Padgaonkar, who heads the group.
Acknowledging the difficulty of the task, Padgaonkar said the interlocutors will approach the task with “an open mind” and “a big heart.”
The team said its talks would be comprehensive and that it would engage in dialogue with all shades of opinion. It, however, noted the mission will be a “difficult” exercise.
“The Prime Minister reiterated support at the highest level. The Prime Minister said talk particularly with youth and women,” Padgaonkar told reporters in New Delhi after meeting with the Prime Minister.
According to Agence India Press correspondent Padgaonkar said, we will begin our journey in Srinagar, and we hope to at least initiate this dialogue process for what is being called a comprehensive, political resolution of this dispute.
Padgaonkar said the way of looking at Kashmir has been different from region to region and the three-member panel would be sensitive to all aspects.
“We are hugely impressed with the depth and sincerity of the Prime Minister to ensure that a solution is found. We are planning to visit Jammu and Kashmir once every month. We will be submitting interim reports after every visit with suggestions and recommendations. We have a mandate of a year,” he said.
Padgaonkar, MM Ansari and Radha Kumar earlier met the Home Minister to discuss the process of talks.
Their aim will be to hold talks with a large section of people and try and find a political solution.