Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 25: The Centre Government is in the process of initiating some more Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) in Jammu and Kashmir, which could be announced after the visit of Centre’s Special Representative on Jammu and Kashmir, Dineshwar Sharma’s return to New Delhi after his current visit to hilly districts of Jammu region including Udhampur, Doda and Kishtwar.
Sharma, who reached here this afternoon, had half an hour long meeting with Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti at her official residence in which they were reported to have discussed the CBMs, which the State Government expects from the Centre at this stage with a view to keep the summer peaceful and ensure arrival of tourists in the State.
Sources told the Excelsior that on his return from the first tour of hilly districts, the Centre’s Interlocutor was likely to meet Governor NN Vohra, either in Jammu or in New Delhi to discuss situation of Jammu and Kashmir and the proposed CBMs.
“Dineshwar Sharma discussed with Mehbooba the steps required to maintain peace in the Kashmir valley so that the tourist season, which has suffered since the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen divisional commander Burhan Wani in July 2016, is good this year,” sources said, adding both were reported to have exchanged some ideas for keeping the summer peaceful.
An official handout said that Sharma also briefed Mehbooba Mufti about his recent interactions with a cross section of society in different areas of the State.
Reliable sources said that during Sharma’s previous interactions in interior areas of Kashmir and visits to Leh and Kargil districts of Ladakh region, he had briefed the top Union Home Ministry officials about steps required to engage youth, generate employment opportunities and give boost developmental works in far-off and hilly districts.
After his visit to hilly districts of Udhampur, Doda and Kishtwar, the Centre’s Special Representative on Jammu and Kashmir was likely to brief the MHA about needs and aspirations in this part of the region.
Meanwhile, after meeting the Chief Minister, Sharma drove to Udhampur district, where he met 28 delegations from all walks of life including social, political, trade, religious, youth, student organization etc. Independent MLA from Udhampur Pawan Gupta also called on Dineshwar and briefed him on the demands of the people of the district.
The organizations submitted memorandum to the Interlocutor listing demands and seeking that number of problems of the hilly district should be addressed.
Sources said the demands ranged from unemployment to development, growth of business to expansion of Udhampur as industrial hub and Dineshwar Sharma gave hearing to all and received memorandums from them.
Some of the delegation members said Dineshwar assured them that the Centre was concerned about all districts of Jammu region, whether it is the capital city, urban, rural or far off district and each and every district will get equal treatment for development and other opportunities.
He told the delegations that a number of steps have already been taken by the Centre for restoration of peace and normalcy and stepping up development activities in Jammu and Kashmir and that more such steps could be taken shortly.
Later, Dineshwar convened meeting of administration in Udhampur and took up with the officers the demands raised by the delegations.
The officers present in the meeting were DC Udhampur Ravinder Kumar, SSP Rayees Bhat, Addl SP Faisal Qureshi and ACR Mr. Dogra.
Meanwhile, after night stay in Udhampur, Dineshwar Sharma would leave for Kishtwar district tomorrow, where he will meet number of delegations including political representatives and senior officers of the administration. He will visit Doda district on Friday.
Sources said Sharma was likely to confine this leg of his tour to hilly and remote districts of Jammu region.
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