New DelhiIn an apparent shift from its no lenient approach policy, BJP led Central government Monday announced its decision to start a dialogue process and appointed former Intelligence Bureau (IB) Director Dineshwar Sharma as its representative for talks with “all” stakeholders in Jammu and Kashmir.
Union Home minister Rajnath Singh said Dineshwar Sharma, 63, who retired as the Intelligence Bureau director in December, will speak to all stakeholders, as well as decide on whether to talk to the Hurriyat Conference.
“Carrying forward the conviction and consistency in its policy, we have decided that a sustained dialogue process should begin in Jammu and Kashmir,” Home Minister told a hurriedly convened news conference here after having maintained for long that there could be no talks with the Hurriyat.
“As a representative of the Government of India Sharma will initiate a sustained interaction and dialogue to understand legitimate aspirations of people in Jammu and Kashmir. He will meet elected representatives, political parties, different organisations and individuals he wants to.
“The sustained dialogue and interaction with all sections of the society and to understand the legitimate aspirations of people of Jammu and Kashmir, particularly its youth.
“Now what we will do for Jammu and Kashmir, will do with clean intention.”
Asked whether the interlocutor, who will have Cabinet rank, would hold talks with Hurriyat leaders, Rajnath Singh appeared not to rule out such a possibility, saying Sharma had a mandate to hold a dialogue “with anyone he wants”.
The Centre had been maintaining a tough Kashmir policy and had ruled out talks with separatists in recent months.
The Home Minister said after completing the exercise, Sharma, a 1979 batch IPS officer with intimate knowledge of the security situation and Kashmir affairs, will give a report to the Centre. Sharma was Director of IB from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2016.
Earlier, he was the Joint Director of the IB’s Islamist Terrorism Desk from 2003 to 05. He headed the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in Jammu and Kashmir and was the Director of the BSF Academy, and Additional Director and Special Director in the IB.
Replying to questions, the minister said no time limit could be set whether it is three months or six months or more. “He can talk to any one he wants.”
He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had talked to all political parties as to what could be done to find a solution to Kashmir problems.
“People told us that the dialogue process should be started. We are doing this,” he said and recalled the Prime Minister’s August 15 speech saying “neither by bullet, nor by abuses but by embracing the people we can solve the problems in Jammu and Kashmir”.
Asked about the status of the resignation reportedly given by Governor NN Vohra and whether it would be accepted in the new context, Rajnath Singh merely replied that the elected government is there and the Governor is there.
Who is Dineshwar Sharma?
In case you dont know who is Dineshwar Sharma, here are few facts about him:
1. Dineshwar Sharma is a Bihar-born, Kerala-Cadre Indian Police Service officer of the 1979 batch. He was the chief of the Intelligence Bureau and served at a wide variety of command & staff positions in various Police, Paramilitary & Intelligence agencies.
2. He was appointed as the IB chief in 2014 and has experience of handling issues like separatism and insurgencies to regional and domestic politics.
3. He has previously served in Nagaland, Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi and Lucknow in various capacities.
4. He has attended training on Intelligence work and Policing methods in East Germany, Poland, Israel and South Korea. Apart from this, he has also worked with the National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval during his earlier stint as IB chief.
5. Interestingly, Sharma had first qualified for the Indian Forest Service and later for IPS.
Follow this link to join our WhatsApp group: Join Now
Be Part of Quality Journalism |
Quality journalism takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce and despite all the hardships we still do it. Our reporters and editors are working overtime in Kashmir and beyond to cover what you care about, break big stories, and expose injustices that can change lives. Today more people are reading Kashmir Observer than ever, but only a handful are paying while advertising revenues are falling fast. |
| ACT NOW |
| MONTHLY | Rs 100 |  |
| YEARLY | Rs 1000 | |
| LIFETIME | Rs 10000 | |
