Srinagar: The interlocutor Dineshwar Sharma’s three-day stay in Kashmir during his maiden five-day visit to the State did not generate much political heat and enthusiasm among the political circles, Indian Express reported on Thursday.
According to Indian media reports, the mainstream politicians, former interlocutor and political analyst blamed non clarity on Sharma’s mandate, no Kashmir-specific Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) and conflicting statements on his appointment by central ministers for the lukewarm response.
Opposition National Conference chief spokesperson and MLA Budgam, Aga Ruhullah told ‘Indian Express’ that lukewarm response to Sharma was due to confusion created by central government about the process.
“First Union MoS PMO said there is no issue in Kashmir and then Modi said talking of autonomy is equivalent to talking of Azadi and merger with Pakistan. Through these statements, they took life out from the interlocution process,” he said.
Sharma arrived here on Monday and left on Thursday for Jammu, where he would be staying for two days and meeting political and apolitical delegations. During his three-day visit in Valley, he met over 70 delegations, most of them less significant. The opposition NC delegation did not meet him while Congress delegation told him to clear stand on his mandate. The separatist leaders and representatives of major trade and travel associations also did not meet him.
According to Ruhullah, Sharma arrived here with empty hands with nothing to offer.
“He is not ready to listen to anybody. This is not a serious process. You have to listen to different ideas otherwise, there is no fun of this process,” he said.
The NC spokesman said his party did not receive invitation for talks by Sharma. “He had met NC working president Omar Abdullah in a personal capacity”.
