Dimapur, Sep. 27 (EMN): The Concerned Citizens Group (CCG) has asked government of India to name an ‘authorised interlocutor’ and begin dialogue on Kashmir with the state’s stakeholders as soon as possible.
A statement issued by the group, received here Wednesday, noted that recent remarks made by the prime minister, the home minister, and the BJP leadership have indicated a ‘positive change in (New Delhi’s) policy towards Kashmir’s citizens.’ The CCG is led by former Union minister, Yashwant Sinha.
“While looking forward to a concrete follow up, we would like to suggest that in order to operationalise the well-intentioned statements that have so eloquently been made, it is now necessary for the government to clearly identify the stakeholders, announce the name of an authorized interlocutor, set a timeframe for the beginning and conduct of the dialogue process and start it as soon as possible.
“Despite deep scepticism that has taken hold of their minds, the encouraging statements by the PM, HM and others hold promise for the Kashmiris. The present opportunity should not be wasted. And, therefore, it is our fervent appeal to the government to quickly act definitively on the sentiments expressed in a time-bound manner,” the statement read.
Besides Sinha, the signatories to the statement include air vice marshal (retd.) Kapil Kak, executive director of the Centre for Dialogue and Reconciliation Sushobha Barve, senior journalist Bharat Bhushan, former chairman of minorities commission Wajahat Habibullah, former Union minister Manish Tewari, former foreign secretary Nirupama Rao, former special secretary to the government V Balachandran, writer and academic Badri Raina, historian and political commentator Ramchandra Guha, professor of political science Zoya Hasan and social activist John Dayal.
