The government of India seems to have adopted confusing policy to deal with contentious Kashmir issue. It appoints interlocutor to resolve the issue but is not ready to listen to the advice suggested by the opposition. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday alleged Congress of lending its voice for ‘Kashmir’s Azadi’ and claimed that party is speaking language spoken by the Pakistan. On Saturday senior Congress leader P Chidambaram pitched for greater autonomy for Jammu and Kashmir, saying his interactions with people had led him to conclude that people of Kashmir wants more autonomy. Instead of making issue out of Chidambaram’s statement the government should lend credible support to the new interlocutor Dineshwar Sharma so that he achieves something.
The Centre recently appointed former Director of the Intelligence Bureau Dineshwar Sharma as its interlocutor for Jammu and Kashmir. Mr Sharma will helm talks with all stakeholders in a bid to resolve the Kashmir imbroglio. His appointment has been welcomed by the people of valley. Though Hurriyat is not enthusiastic but the majority of Kashmiri have appreciated the move of centre. The situation in valley has worsened in the last two years. Central government has miserably failed to address the Kashmir issue. They don’t seem to have any proper plan or policy to deal with the issue. This policy paralysis has opened up opportunity for the Pakistan to foment trouble in the valley. The appointment of new interlocutor shows that finally better sense seems to be prevailing in the power corridor of New Delhi. Hopefully this will pave the way for road ahead to resolve the long pending Kashmir problem.