Inclusive dialogue on J&K only way forward: Mehbooba

Inclusive dialogue on J&K only way forward: Mehbooba

jammu:On third day of his third visit to Jammu and Kashmir, Centre Government’s Special Representative on Jammu and Kashmir, Dineshwar Sharma today met Governor NN Vohra and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti here separately and had detailed discussions with them on host of issues after which Mehbooba said an inclusive dialogue on Jammu and Kashmir is the only way forward.
“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 Jammu and Kashmir is the only way forward,’’ Mehbooba tweeted after her meeting with Sharma.
Sharma reached here this afternoon and drove to the official residence of Mehbooba Mufti, 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.
Official sources told the Excelsior that progress on Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) already announced by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and more steps that can be initiated by the Centre and State Governments reportedly figured during discussions Sharma had with the Governor at the Raj Bhavan and the Chief Minister at her official residence.
A Raj Bhavan spokesman said Sharma informed Vohra about his just concluded visit to the Valley and tentative plans regarding his future engagements.
This was the sixth meeting between Vohra and Sharma after the latter took over the assignment of Centre’s Special Representative on Jammu and Kashmir.
The MHA had announced four major CBMs for restoration of peace and normalcy in the Kashmir valley after Sharma’s first visit to the State, which included amnesty to first-time stone pelters. The CBM has been implemented by the State Government.
According to sources, the MHA could take some more CBMs based on recommendations of the Centre’s Special Representative, who has met number of delegations of youth, students, tour and travel operators and political and social organizations during his two and half day stay in North Kashmir.
Ruling PDP leader Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra, who happens to be the Secretary State Sports Council, also met Dineshwar Sharma here and projected number of issues before him.
Sharma would return to New Delhi tomorrow afternoon. He was likely to meet some more individuals here tomorrow morning before winding up his third four-day visit to the State.
Dineshwar had paid two visits to Jammu and Kashmir in November after his appointment by the Union Home Minister as Centre’s Special Representative on Jammu and Kashmir in the rank of Cabinet Secretary.
Surprisingly, Dineshwar hasn’t visited Ladakh region even after his three visits to Jammu and Kashmir. During all three visits, he toured various parts of Jammu and Kashmir regions.
While first visit of Dineshwar Sharma was confined to capital cities of Jammu and Srinagar meeting various delegations, during his second visit, he went to South Kashmir, once the hub of militancy, while in Jammu region, he became first Interlocutor to visit Talwara migrant camp in Reasi district, where migrants from different parts of Jammu  province were putting up, completely neglected by the Government. During third visit, he travelled to North Kashmir.
Meanwhile, Dineshwar Sharma today met at least seven delegations in Srinagar before leaving for Jammu.
An official said that Sharma met seven delegations from different sections of society at Hari Niwas this morning before leaving for Jammu and discussed the various issues confronting the society.
PDP general secretary (Youth) Engineer Nazir Ahmad Yatoo and Vice Chairman JK Cements Ltd  who met Sharma told him that free movement of people should be allowed across Line of Control (LoC) and this should not be restricted to mere visit of relatives across the LoC.
Yatoo discussed several political and developmental issues with Sharma.  He also raised his serious concerns over the role of National Investigation Agency (NIA) in Jammu and Kashmir and said its role should be restricted.