The Concerned Citizens Group (CCG) today asked New Delhi to initiate dialogue with stakeholders in Jammu and Kashmir.
“We have read with much hope the statements of the Prime Minister, the Home minister and the BJP leadership on a positive change in policy towards Kashmir’s citizens, as have many Kashmiris,” Sushobha Barve coordinator, Concerned Citizens Group said in a statement.
“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,” the statement said.
“Despite deep skepticism that has taken hold of their minds, the encouraging statements by the Prime Minister, Home minister 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,” it added.
The signatories to the statement include Yashwant Sinha, former foreign and finance minister Wajahat Habibullah, former chairman Minorities Commission, Manish Tewari, former minister of I&B, Nirupama Rao, former foreign secretary, Kapil Kak, air-vice marshal (retd), V. Balachandran, former special secretary, Government of India, Badri Raina, writer and academic, Ramachandra Guha, historian and political commentator, Zoya Hasan, professor of political science, Bharat Bhushan, John Dayal social activist Sushobha Barve, executive secretary, Centre for Dialogue and Reconciliation
