Interlocutors have changed ‘discourse’ in J-K to some extent: Chidambaram

NEW DELHI - Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on Monday said the three interlocutors appointed by the Central Government to seek out various shades of opinion in Jammu and Kashmir have been able to change the ‘discourse’ in the State.

Addressing the media persons here today, while presenting the Monthly Report Card of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Chidambaram said there is a sense of expectation that the political problem of Jammu and Kashmir will be addressed in all seriousness after the recent visit of the All Party Delegation to the State.

“I sincerely hope that the people in the state will give peace a chance and give dialogue a chance,” said Chidambaram.

“I think media should not ask and interlocutors should not give a ball-by-ball commentary about their dialogue. This is interlocution. This is not a cricket match,” he added, while asking them to refrain from giving a ‘ball-by-ball commentary’ about the progress made in their dialogue.

Commenting on the criticisms made by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) with regard to the three interlocutors, Chidambaram said if the party wants the dialogue process to succeed, it should show restraint and not make these completely baseless allegations.

“They should give the dialogue process a chance to succeed,” he said.

Veteran journalist Dileep Padgaonkar, academician Radha Kumar and Central Information Commissioner M M Ansari constitute the three-member panel that has been assigned to hold the largest possible consultation with all sections of the society with varied opinions about Jammu and Kashmir.

Kashmir has witnessed massive demonstrations against Indian rule in the last three months and at least 100 stone-pelting protestors have been killed in firing by the security forces. (ANI)