A sustained dialogue will be initiated by the government to find a solution to the Kashmir issue, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said on Monday.
Addressing a hurriedly-convened press conference, Singh said former director of the Intelligence Bureau Dineshwar Sharma would be the central government’s representative to initiate dialogue with all stakeholders in Jammu and Kashmir.
“The government has decided to start a sustained dialogue in Jammu and Kashmir. Former IB director Dineshwar Sharma will be government of India’s representative. Rank of Dineshwar Sharma will be equivalent to that of a cabinet secretary,” the home minister said.
Sharma, a 1979-batch (retired) officer of the Indian Police Service, served as the IB director between December, 2014 and 2016.
Sharma will decide whom he wants to hold talks with, Singh said when asked whether he would have dialogue with the Hurriyat Conference.
The initiative has been taken as per Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Independence Day address, the home minister said.
“From the ramparts of Red Fort Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said, ‘Neither by bullet, nor by abuses but by embracing the people we can solve the problems in Jammu and Kashmir’,” Singh added.
Referring to the unrest in Jammu and Kashmir, Singh said that the PM is determined to bring back peace to the Valley.
With inputs from ANI.
Source: Rediff