Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Oct 23: After ‘Operation All Out’ against militants and National Investigating Agency (NIA) raids on separatists and others to choke terror funding and hawala operations, the Centre Government today announced commencement of “sustained dialogue process” in Jammu and Kashmir by appointing Dineshwar Sharma, who had retired as Intelligence Bureau (IB) Director last year, as its Special Representative for initiating dialogue with all stakeholders in the State.
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Soon after his appointment, Dineshwar Sharma, who had served as Assistant Director of IB in Kashmir from 1992 to 1994 and was today conferred the rank of Cabinet Secretary for holding talks, announced that he will be travelling to Kashmir in the next 8 to 10 days to assess the situation and see that how things can move forward.
“My priority is restoration of peace and finding permanent solution (to Kashmir problem). Hopefully, I will live up to trust the Government of India has reposed in me and fulfill expectations of the people,” Sharma, who is an IPS officer of Kerala cadre of 1979 batch, said, adding that talks can be held with all stakeholders including those, who have no political affiliation.
Soon after his appointment, Sharma met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh for half an hour and discussed with him the modalities for initiating dialogue on Kashmir.
Sources told the Excelsior that while announcing appointment of Special Representative on Jammu and Kashmir, the Centre Government has made it clear that NIA probe against separatists and others for terror funding and hawala operations would go on and there would be no let up in ‘Operation All Out’ launched by security forces against the militants.
“All other operations aimed at restoration of peace in the Valley including stone pelters would go on uninterrupted,” they said.
Sources said the Ministry of Home Affairs headed by Rajnath Singh, which announced appointment of the Special Representative on Jammu and Kashmir, has mandated Dineshwar Sharma to hold talks with stakeholders of all three regions of the State including Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh.
The Home Ministry didn’t give any time-frame to the Special Representative for completing talks on Kashmir and submitting report. Dineshwar has been asked to hold comprehensive dialogue with all sections of society before finalizing the recommendations.
On whether the Special Representative would hold talks with separatists including two factions of Hurriyat Conference, sources said Sharma would have complete independence in deciding with whom to talk.
In a series of tweets on the appointment of Dineshwar Sharma as Special Representative on Jammu and Kashmir, the Ministry of Homes Affairs said: “Dineshwar Sharma is free to interact with all sections of society especially youth and understand their aspirations. He will engage with all walks of life. As a representative of the Government of India, he will initiate sustained interaction and dialogue to understand legitimate aspirations of people in Jammu and Kashmir”.
Asserting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s August 15 statement from ramparts of Red Force had clearly underling the Centre Government’s policy and intentions towards Jammu and Kashmir, the MHA said Modi-headed Government is sensitive to issues pertaining to Jammu and Kashmir. It quoted the statement made by Modi on August 15 that “neither by bullet, nor by abuses but by embracing the people, we can solve the problems in Jammu and Kashmir”.
Rank of Dineshwar Sharma will be equivalent to that of Cabinet Secretary, the MHA said in another tweet.
Appointment of Dineshwar Sharma as the Special Representative of Centre on Jammu and Kashmir came after series of hectic developments including the Prime Minister’s Independence Day statement on Kashmir which was followed by Home Minister Rajnath Singh’s four-day visit to the State from September 9 to 12 and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti’s meetings with the Prime Minister, the Home Minister and the Defence Minister.
PTI adds from New Delhi:
Addressing a press conference in the Union capital, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said Dineshwar Sharma would hold talks with all sections of people and organizations.
The Home Minister made it clear that Sharma would have complete independence in deciding whom to hold talks with. He was replying to a question on whether Sharma would hold discussions with the Hurriyat Conference.
“The Centre has shown conviction and consistency on Kashmir issue and carrying forward this policy, we have decided to begin a sustained dialogue policy for Jammu and Kashmir,” Rajnath said.
He added that the Prime Minister had held a series of meetings with political representatives on the Kashmir issue. “All of them were clear that the process of dialogue should begin in the Valley,” he said.
Asked about the failure of similar initiatives undertaken earlier, Singh said, “Please take it from me that whatever we do, we will do with saaf neeyat aur neeti (good intentions and clear policy).”
In another supplementary question on previous reports of interlocutors gathering dust in the Home Ministry, he said, “You cannot pre-judge that this initiative will not be successful. Our announcement shows how serious we are about initiating dialogue.”
The Home Minister said the Special Representative would initiate sustained interactions and dialogue to understand the legitimate aspirations of people, especially the youth, and try to fulfill them.
Sharma, a 1979-batch (retired) officer of the Indian Police Service, served as director of the Intelligence Bureau from December 2014 to 2016.
Asked whether a police officer was capable for holding talks on such a sensitive issue, Singh shot back, “What’s wrong in that? He is an apolitical person having no political affiliation which is his greatest advantage. Besides he is well aware about the internal security situation of the country.”
The clock has turned full circle for Dineshwar Sharma, who was appointed the Centre’s special representative in Kashmir today, 25 years after his first posting for the Bureau in the Valley.
It was May 1992. Militancy was at its peak and Sharma, then 36, arrived in Srinagar after completing a year of customary training at the Intelligence Bureau headquarters in New Delhi.
“It’s like homecoming for me. I am sure that I will be able to fulfill the expectations of the Government and people of the country,” Sharma said.
The 61-year-old — at present the Centre’s point person for dialogue with Assam-based militant groups — said he felt honoured that he has been assigned such a challenging task.
Kashmir has been a running thread through his career. After his return from the Valley in 1994, Sharma was again posted at the Kashmir desk in the national capital.
“The times were tough and I hope that now we will together bring peace in the Valley,” he said.
Asked whether he would talk to separatist groups in the Valley, Sharma said, “The modalities are being worked out but I would like to talk to everyone who is interested in bringing permanent peace in the Valley.”
“Let me make it clear that peace is the priority and for that my doors will be open to everyone,” he said.
Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Independence Day speech, Sharma said, “… We have to work towards the goal set by the Prime Minister and embrace Kashmiris and ensure that lasting peace is achieved.”
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