Interlocutor Dineshwar Sharma calls on JK Governor NN Vohra and CM Mufti; informs future plans

Srinagar, December 28: The central government’s interlocutor for Kashmir Dineshwar Sharma on Wednesday met Governor NN Vohra and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti separately in Jammu. During the meet, Dineshwar Sharma informed about his concluded visit to the Valley and tentative plans regarding his future engagements. 

Notably, Sharma reached Jammu and drove to the official residence of the Chief Minister, where the two discussed affairs of the State for 45 minutes including Sharma’s dialogue with a number of delegations during his two-day visit to North Kashmir.

After the meeting, Jammu and Kashmir CM Mehbooba Mufti tweeted that an inclusive dialogue on Jammu and Kashmir is the only way forward. She said, “Met with Special Representative of the Centre, Dineshwar Sharma today to discuss his consultations with a cross-section of society in the state. We firmly believe that an inclusive dialogue on J&K is the only way forward.”

Later, Dineshwar Sharma met Governor NN Vohra and informed him about his concluded visit to the Valley and tentative plans regarding his future engagements. However, this was the sixth meeting between Sharma and Governor Vohra after the latter took over the assignment of Centre’s Special Representative on Jammu and Kashmir.

Importantly, the centre's interlocutor for Kashmir Dineshwar Sharma arrived Srinagar on Monday for his third visit to the state and met over 60 delegations. Sharma described the meetings with the people in north Kashmir as very positive and encouraging.

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.