No red lines for Kashmir interlocutors, says Chidambaram

NEW DELHI - Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on Wednesday said that there are no red lines for interlocutors assigned to find a solution for the restive situation in Jammu and Kashmir.

Briefing the media, after the meeting of the Union Cabinet, Chidambaram said that the interlocutors would be interacting with every part of the society, ranging from political leaders, locals, students and non-government organizations.

“They will gather every shade of opinion on how to find a political solution to the issue of Jammu and Kashmir. There are no red lines, I said so, and I am glad that Mr. Padgaonkar (one of the interlocutors for Kashmir issue) repeated to the media that there are no red lines. Their main brief is to chart a course towards a political solution,” said Chidambaram.

On October 13, eminent journalist Dileep Padgaonkar, noted academician Radha Kumar and Central Information Commissioner M. M. Ansari, were appointed as interlocutors on Jammu and Kashmir issue.

Chidambaram has criticised the Kerala government over the issue of regulating lotteries in the State.

“I think the State government in Kerala is passing the buck. There is a parliamentary law on lotteries and that law is passed by Parliament, by members representing all the states. Rules have been made so there is parliamentary law, there are rules; it is no different from any other parliamentary law and rules made under that law. Who should implement the act and the rules? It is the State government, which must implement the acts and the rules,” said Chidambaram.

The Home Minister also spoke on the Cabinet’s approval of amendments in the Enemy Property Act of 1968, which would now be introduced in the Winter Session of Parliament.

“As I said, the four Amendments placed before Parliament have been incorporated in the new Bill. So, in that sense, the original Bill plus the additional Amendments have been incorporated, so there is really no change in the content of the Bill than what it was when we placed it before Parliament,” said Chidambaram.

A meeting of the Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, approved the proposal of the Ministry of Home Affairs to introduce the Enemy Property (Amendment and Validation) Second Bill, 2010.

The Bill allows Indian-born legal heirs to claim property left behind by those who migrated to Pakistan after the Partition in 1947.

The amendment would ensure, among other issues, that property is divested only to the owner or his lawful heir and continue to vest with the custodian till the Centre divests it.

The Enemy Property Act of 1968 authorizes the Central government to appoint a custodian for enemy property for India, and one or more deputy/assistant custodians as assistances. (ANI)