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‘Going to Be With My People’: J&K Interlocutor to Begin Talks   

Separatist groups including Hurriyat and JKLF said that they would not meet Dineshwar Sharma.

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India
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Centre's special representative for Kashmir Dineshwar Sharma said he does not have a magic wand, but wants to be judged by his actions when he starts the process of talks in the Valley on Monday, 6 November.

“I do not have a magic wand but my efforts have to be judged with sincerity and not through the prism of the past,” Sharma, 61, told PTI.

The former Intelligence Bureau director added that no one should jump to conclusions before the process of talks with various stakeholders in Kashmir began.

I am going there to be with my people and understand their pain and suffering and find a suitable remedy to their problems.
Dineshwar Sharma

Responding to criticisms which have appeared in sections of the media, he said in due course he would also meet intellectuals for their advice in achieving “this difficult national task.”

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He said Kashmir was his “second home” as his professional journey in the premier intelligence unit began here in 1992.

To a question about a statement made by the Joint Resistance Front comprising separatist groups including moderate and hardline factions of the Hurriyat and JKLF that they would not meet him, Sharma said the government's effort should not be seen through the “prism of the past”.

It is purely their choice whether they want to be a partner in peace or on the opposite side of the fence where destruction has been topping the agenda. My suggestion to everyone is that they should not see this effort of the government through the prism of the past.

National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah had said that the party had “little” expectations from Sharma.

“I have very little expectations from this new interlocutor. Like it has been done before, he will come and meet people. In 2010, the then UPA government had appointed a group of interlocutors who visited the state and had detailed discussions with every section here,” he said.

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A Hurriyat Conference spokesman claimed that its leaders would not meet the Centre's special representative for Kashmir.

He said that according to Hurriyat “forced negotiations” have no political or moral justifications.

“We reject the dialogue offer...It is mere rhetoric and wastage of time and no section of Hurriyat or group will meet designate interlocutor or participate in this futile exercise,” the spokesman said.

(With inputs from PTI)

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