J-K interlocutors interact with locals in Jammu

JAMMU - The team of three interlocutors led by Dileep Padgaonkar, the noted journalist interacted with people here on Thursday.

During their brief stay in Jammu, the interlocutors met hundreds of people to listen to a spectrum of diverse opinions.

“We are 100 per cent positive…the amount and quality of time that the interlocutors have spent with us, and the wholesome talks that we have had, has been excellent. We are positive that the panel will convey our views and grievances to the Prime Minister,” said Anil Kaul, a Kashmiri Pandit.

On the other hand, the displaced tribals slammed the State Government for promoting violence and corrupt practices plaguing the region.

“Everybody in the region is speaking about freedom from this, freedom from that. The people of Jammu, be it Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs or any other caste, also want freedom. But, we want freedom from corruption; we want freedom from this government, which is corrupt. We want freedom from these thieves who are exploiting our nation,” said Ghulam Moinuddin, a displaced tribal.

Addressing a news conference here on Wednesday, Dileep Padgaonkar said: “If and when the separatists want to talk to us, we would be ready to talk to them. We can’t force people to talk to us because they have their compulsions.”

“Where and how they come to a decision to talk or not to talk, I don’t know, but should they decide to talk to us then we will be very happy to talk to them. What we will not do is to just land up on their doorstep and hope that talks would happen,” Padgaonkar added.

Padgaonkar and academician Radha Kumar reached Jammu after concluding a four-day visit to the Kashmir Valley on Tuesday. (ANI)