Srinagar: Appreciating the efforts of the
three-member team of interlocutors, Jammu and Kashmir Chief
Minister Omar Abdullah today said they have managed to change
the direction of the discourse in the Valley to some extent
with their initial attempts to reach out to the people.
He said people were ready to listen to what the
Centre-appointed panel comprising eminent journalist Dileep
Padgaonkar, academician Radha Kumar and former Information
Commissioner M M Ansari have to say.
The Chief Minister said their visit has "changed the
direction of discourse in the Valley as appeals of separatists
asking people to keep away from the group have not elicited
a favourable response.
"In a small period that they have spent in the Valley,
the views of interlocutors are attracting more attention than
those expressed by the people who are staying away from them,"
Omar told PTI.
He said the views of interlocutors have created an
interest among people who are discussing them.
"Their views are being discussed by common people. I
think in such a small period, this is an initial achievement
for the group," he said.
Defending his statement in the state assembly on the
issue of accession of the state to India, Omar said he need
not clarify it further and will give any explanation on the
issue on the floor of the House.
"My statement was based on historical facts about the
issue. People who know the issue, who have knowledge about it
have agreed with me but those who do not know about it are
issuing statements against me. But this is all part and parcel
of politics and I don`t mind that," he said.
-PTI
