NEW DELHI: Noted journalist Dilip Padgaonkar, Information Commissioner M M Ansari and academician Prof Radha Kumar have been chosen as interlocutors in the Jammu and Kashmir dialogue process. The Home Minister P Chidambaram has expressed the hope that the interlocutors for Jammu and Kashmir will begin their work as early as possible.
The home minister appealed to all sections of society to engage with the interlocutors to bring a solution.
The centre has also appointed two special task forces to examine the development needs of Jammu and Ladhak region of Jammu and Kashmir. They will examine the developmental needs of the two regions particularly with regard to deficiencies in infrastructure and give suitable recommendation in three months time. Dr Narendra Jadhav will chair the Special force for Ladhak region while Task force for Jammu region will be headed by Dr Abhijet Sen . Both are members of the Planning Commission. Both Task forces will have six members each.
It may be recalled that the Centre had announced an eight point package of initiatives with the immediate objectives to maintain peace and order and defuse the situation in Jammu and Kashmir through confidence building measures. The steps were announced following the visit of an All Party delegation to the State in the wake of the increasing number of incidents of violence in the Kashmir valley. The measures announced included the appointment of a group of interlocutors to start a process of sustained dialogue with all sections of people of Jammu and Kashmir including political parties or groups and other stake holders as well as the setting up of two special Task forces. Action has already been initiated with regard to other decisions. They include a hundred crore Rupee additional central assistance for grants to schools and colleges to improve their infrastructure, grant of ex-gratia relief of five lakh rupees per person killed in the civil disturbances since the 11th of June. AIR
The Real Voice of India