Jammu: After covering 18 districts in ten visits to Jammu and Kashmir, the three-member interlocutors team appointed by the Centre, today gave a four-point formula to resolve the Kashmir issue.
“We have completed our tenth visit to Jammu and Kashmir, which took place against the backdrop of four positive developments,” veteran journalist and chief interlocutor Dilip Padgaonkar told a press conference here this morning.
He was flanked by academician Radha Kumar and former Chief Information Commissioner M M Ansari.
Mr Padgaonkar said during their meetings with various sections of the society, they found that everyone was convinced that dialogue is the only solution to resolve the crisis.
“Second, there is an immediate need to maintain the integrity of the state, third despite what has happened in the past, there is a need of power sharing between regions and sub-regions and finally everyone needs restoration of a tolerant and pluralist culture,” he added.
He said at considerable cost, people have ensured that peace prevailed in the state, especially in the Valley, in June and in the first fortnight of July.
“This respite has led to an unprecedented influx of tourists, boosting the earnings of thousands of people engaged, directly or otherwise, with the tourism sector,” he said.
The chief interlocutor said despite earlier tensions between the Shrine Board and certain organisations on the Amarnath yatra, the pilgrimage attracted yatris again on unprecedented scale.
“Likewise, cultural and sporting events, organised in several parts, galvanised the youth and finally, the peaceful conduct of Panchayat elections and the impressive voter turnout, testified the faith of the people in democratic governance at the grassroot level,” he added.
He, said people representing all shades of opinions turned up to meet them with a heightened degree of optimism.