M A I N   N E W S

Centre picks Kashmir interlocutors
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 13
Nearly three weeks after the Centre rolled out its eight-point agenda for Jammu & Kashmir, the government has announced the names of three interlocutors who have been mandated to hold talks with all shades of opinion, including the separatists.

However, a search for the fourth member, a politician of ‘high-standing’ in the Congress, continues.

Senior journalist Dileep Padgaonkar, Information Commissioner MM Ansari and academician Radha Kumar have been appointed as interlocutors by the Union Home Ministry. Sources said the ministry has steered clear of appointing former bureaucrats whose names had cropped up at meetings. However, the MHA was hunting for a seasoned politician to head the panel. The ministry had suggested the names of Congress leader Digvijay Singh, Minister for Commerce and Minorities Affairs Salman Khursheed and minister in the PMO Prithviraj Chavan, said sources.

Chavan’s name was rejected as he has his hands full (He is dealing with various departments apart from being in the PMO). The other two — Digvijay Singh and Salman Khursheed —have not shown their keenness for the job so far, added sources.

The interlocutors, who will be spending some time in J&K, will be submitting reports to the Centre at periodic intervals. They will not enjoy any special status like a Cabinet-rank or similar ‘protocol-showing’ ranks.

Home Minister P Chidambaram said one or more interlocutors could be added to the panel later. “The three are credible people and they will begin work as early as possible. The Union Government hopes that after interacting with all shades of opinion they will suggest a way forward that truly reflects the aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, especially the youth,” a statement issued by the MHA said.

Professor Radha Kumar is Director at Jamia Milia Islamia's Nelson Mandela Centre for Peace and Conflict Resolution in Delhi. She is specialist on ethnic conflicts and peace processes. Kumar has also edited and authored various insightful reports, including ‘Frameworks For A Kashmir Settlement’ (2007 and 2006), ‘Peace-Building: European and Indian Views’ (2007) and ‘What Makes a Peace Process Irreversible’ (2005). She is also a director in the powerful Delhi Policy Group.

Professor MM Ansari is the Information Commissioner at the CIC since 2005. He has written several research and policy oriented studies on planning and implementation of welfare schemes. Padgaonkar is a veteran journalist and has worked with the Times of India. He has held several senior positions and was also the newspaper’s Paris correspondent. Padgaonkar was elevated to the post of Consulting Editor and served in the daily till 2009.