Center taking steps to restore peace in Kashmir: Arun Jaitley

‘Through interlocutor, we intend to engage with all to resolve K-issue’

The Government of India (GoI) is taking all steps to ensure a return of normalcy to Jammu and Kashmir, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said on Wednesday.
“There was a situation in the Valley when civil disobedience was at its peak. There were thousands of stone-pelters. Militants were picking their targets as they liked. Hurriyat would give a call whenever they liked and paralyse everything,” Jaitley said.
He said today the situation has changed and forces have an upper hand.
“It has become difficult for stone-pelters to gather a crowd. The Hurriyat has been exposed,” he said.
Jaitley said GoI’s policy is to bring peace in Jammu and Kashmir.
“The government works on the basis of what steps are supposed to be taken to bring normalcy back to the valley,” he said.
The FM said the GoI, through its interlocutor, intends to engage with all who want to talk to resolve the Kashmir issue.
“In a situation like this, the government through its new initiative is engaging with those who want to talk. We are trying to bring back normalcy. What efforts are to be made will be decided by our special representative and the state government,” he said.
The GoI on October 24 appointed former Intelligence Bureau Director Dineshwar Sharma as its interlocutor for Jammu and Kashmir.