Govt appoints ex-IB director to initiate sustained dialogue on Kashmir issue

23 October,New Delhi

The Centre has appointed former Director of Intelligence Bureau, IB, Dineshwar Sharma as its representative to hold dialogue on Kashmir issue.

Announcing the decision of the government in New Delhi Monday, Home Minister Rajnath Singh told reporters that government wants to initiate a sustained dialogue to find a solution to the Kashmir issue.

When asked whether Mr Sharma would have dialogue with the Hurriyat Conference, the Home Minister said, he will be free to talk to all stakeholders.

The Home Minister recalled Prime Minister’s Independence Day Address in which he had said that problems in Jammu and Kashmir can be solved embracing the people and not by bullet or abuses.

Sharma, a 1979-batch (retired) officer of the Indian Police Service, served as the IB director between December, 2014 and 2016.

Reacting to the decision, Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari said it indicates that realists in the Government have prevailed over hawks. He said, hard Power is not an end but means towards an end.

Welcoming the decision, Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir
Mehbooba Mufti said the dialogue is a necessity of the hour and the only way to go forward.

BJP National general secretary Ram Madhav said, this is a right decision with the right man at right time.

National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah termed the decision as a promising step.