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This Article is From Nov 02, 2010

Kashmir interlocutors submit initial assessment report to Chidambaram

Kashmir interlocutors submit initial assessment report to Chidambaram
New Delhi: After completing their first visit to Jammu and Kashmir, the interlocutors appointed by the Centre have submitted their initial report to the Home Minister.

They have given a list of recommendations to government on Kashmir which they said can't be made public.

They also maintained that they will continue making regular trips to Kashmir to keep the dialogue going.

They will also visit the remote areas from next time.

Ahead of their meeting today, Chidambaram on Monday asked them to refrain from giving a "ball-by-ball commentary" about the progress made in their dialogue.

"I think...interlocutors should not give a ball-by-ball commentary about their dialogue. This is interlocution. This is not a cricket match," he told reporters when asked about interlocutor Dileep Padgaonkar claiming that a terrorist had promised to present to him a peace plan for the Valley.

The interlocutors on Kashmir have come under criticism for making controversial statements.

Dileep Padgaonkar and another interlocutor Radha Kumar had recently stirred a controversy by stating that Pakistan should be involved in finding a lasting solution to the Kashmir issue.

On criticism from BJP about remarks made by the interlocutors, he 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."

The Home Minister said the interlocutors have, to some extent, changed the discourse in the state. "I sincerely hope that the people in the state will give peace a chance and give dialogue a chance," he added.

Noting that the situation in the Valley was gradually getting back to normal, Chidambaram however added that it is "too early" to say that everything is normal there."  (With PTI Inputs)

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