Sharma is the boss, says Rajnath Singh
New Delhi: Giving ample hints that the newly-appointed interlocutor for Jammu and Kashmir, Dineshwar Sharma, would decide whom he engaged with in the state, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said that he will be deciding whom to engage with.
Asked if Sharma would hold talks with the Hurriyat Conference, as suggested by some state politicians, Singh said, “It depends upon him whom he talks to or engages with.
Sharma, a former director of the Intelligence Bureau (IB), was appointed by the central government as its representative yesterday to initiate a dialogue with all stakeholders in Jammu and Kashmir.
The retired 1979-batch officer of the Indian Police Service was the IB director from December, 2014, to December, 2016.
The minister dodged questions by reporters on what signals the Indian government sought to send to Pakistan with the appointment of the interlocutor.
Singh was speaking on the sidelines of the 56th Raising Day parade of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police here.
Sustained dialogues would be initiated by the government for a solution to the Kashmir issue, Singh had said yesterday.
The home minister had also made it clear that Sharma, who would hold the rank of a cabinet secretary, would have a free hand in deciding whom to engage with.
Meanwhile, the newly appointed interlocutor Dineshwar Sharma said that his doors for dialogue are open to everyone.
Sharma told news agency CNS that he is arriving in Kashmir Valley next week and hopefully will get a positive response from the people of Jammu and Kashmir. “I will be in Kashmir next week. I am hopeful. I will meet everyone and even Hurriyat leaders. My doors are open to everyone,” he said.
Responding to a question, Sharma said that he will interact with everyone. “Let us hope for the best. I am hopeful I will deliver,” he said.
KV Correspondent
