By IANS,
New Delhi : The government’s interlocutors on Jammu and Kashmir Saturday termed as speculative reports in a section of media that they were likely to recommend pre-1953 status for the state – when it had autonomy over all subjects barring foreign affairs, defence and communications – as a way forward to resolve the Kashmir problem.
The three interlocutors – journalist Dilip Padgaonkar, academician Radha Kumar and economist M.M. Ansari – said in a statement that they were engaged in preparing a draft of the final report and had not given final shape to the recommendations.
“The (media) report is purely speculative in nature. The group of interlocutors is presently engaged in preparing a draft of its final report, which is expected to be submitted to the government of India before its term ends. The three members of the group are yet to enumerate, let alone discuss and finalise the recommendations. They will do so after they return from their last visit to Jammu and Kashmir in the latter half of this month,” they said in a statement.
A media report had said that the interlocutors were likely to recommend that the Jammu and Kashmir government be given exclusive jurisdiction of all departments except defence, foreign affairs and communications, which is very close to the position prevailing in the state prior to 1953.
“There is no question of anyone in the government, let alone outside the government, being privy to the final recommendation. These recommendations do not exist in their embryonic form at present,” the interlocutors said in their statement.
The three were appointed after last summer’s violent uprising that saw over 110 people, mostly youths, killed in clashes between security personnel and stone-pelting mobs.
The interlocutors were tasked with suggesting ways of bringing about sustained peace in the state.
The three have been interacting with various sections of society and have met key political figures in the state, including Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and main opposition Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti.