Interlocutor Again: Delegations seek resolution to K-issue through dialogue

Srinagar: Many delegations whom the Centre’s special representative Dineshwar Sharma met on Thursday have suggested for the dialogue between India and Pakistan for permanent solution of Kashmir issue.
On his fifth visit to Kashmir, Sharma chose to interact with the delegations from south Kashmir’s Shopian district on day first.
Sources said that at least 16 delegations met with the New Delhi’s representative at circuit house for almost four hours.
The delegation as per the sources included representatives from street vendors to village heads and a scholar, who put different issues before him.
Sources said that many delegates including representatives from numberdars (village heads), a scholar and Scheduled Tribe (ST) community apart listing their personal issues, have suggested initiating dialogue between India and Pakistan and protection of Article 370.
“A delegation from ST and village representatives asked Sharma to initiative a peace process to end hostilities between India and Pakistan. An appeal to solve Kashmir issue and protection of Article 370 was also made by the delegations,” they said.
Sources also said that the delegations from the district have appealed the Centre’s representative to hold talks with Hurriyat leadership as well.
They said that the representatives from the Gujjar Community demanded proper road connectivity to their respective areas.
Sources said that delegations from slain militants and forces personnel also met with Sharma and conveyed their day-to-day issues.
Delegations, like of taxi drivers and vendors, also put their demand for permanent yard and end to “harassment” by the authorities, respectively.
Sources said that a delegation from 2014 flood affected areas also met Sharma and demanded compensation of their losses.
“Their members complained that the government had rehabilitated them properly due to which they have suffered a lot,” they said.
Sources said that a demand for sports infrastructure and recognition by the state government was also put by the martial art athletes.
“They said that majority of them fail to achieve their goals as the statement government was not providing them enough avenues. The athletes demanded a proper indoor stadium for the district,” they said.
In his four visits to the state, Sharma met mainstream politicians, civil society members, traders, and people from other walks of life. However, most prominent civil society groups, traders refused to meet him during his earlier visits.
While the ruling Peoples Democratic Party and Bhartiya Janta Party have welcomed this Centre’s initiative, the Hurriyat, which is considered a main stakeholder, has termed his appointment as a “cosmetic and futile” exercise and refused to meet him.
Sharma is credited for the amnesty announced by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti to first time stone pelters in Kashmir.