Srinagar, Nov 29 (KNS): Even as the Government of India’s special representative, Dineshwar Sharma, is holding dialogue process in the state, former chief minister and National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah Wednesday hoped that Sharma understands the issue and asks New Delhi to find a solution.
“We hope that he (Sharma) listens to the people and those who meet him talk about real issues; he will understand that a way has to be found out. And also he conveys to Delhi to find a solution (to the issue),” Abdullah said while talking to reporters at Nawa-e-Subhe.
However, the statement of the NC’s patron is contradictory to his earlier stand wherein he had said that he has “little expectations” from Sharma.
On November 5, addressing a party gathering in Tangdhar in Kupwara district, Abdullah had said he does not have any expectations from Sharma and the only way forward in Kashmir is restoration of autonomy to the state.
"I have very little expectations from this new interlocutor. Like it has been done before, he will come and meet people. In 2010, then UPA government appointed a group of interlocutors who visited the state and had detailed discussions with every section here. The process took more than two months and after they were done with meeting people, a report was compiled. What happened to that report? Did the government discuss that report in any forum including the Parliament?,” the former CM said.
The NC MP from Central Kashmir said that India and Pakistan should sit and talk together to end the terrorism.
“Time has come for Government of India to find ways and means of talking to Pakistan and find a way forward, and find a solution which is acceptable to the people of Pakistan, India and people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh,” he said in reply to a question.
He said that his statements are based on reality and are not irrational.
“For 70 years, PoK has been part of Pakistan, this has been part of India, four wars have been fought and in these four nothing has happened. They hold that territory and we hold this territory,” he said.
He said that wars do not end conflicts but aggravate tragedies of the people. (KNS)