BJP’s Kashmir unit calls for boycott of central government interlocutors

JAMMU - The Bharatiya Janata Party plans to boycott the three interlocutors appointed by the Central Government to gather views from a cross-section of people and leaders in Jammu and Kashmir on how to resolve the problems besetting the region.

BJP state unit president Shamsher Singh Manhal told media on Wednesday that the Kashmir issue is an internal matter of India, and that there was no need for “alien interlocutors”.

“The interlocutors have asked for the inclusion of Pakistan to resolve the crisis in Kashmir. Why should Pakistan be involved in our internal matters? Kashmir is an internal matter to India, which doesn’t need any interference or help of any foreign country to resolve the issue. So, that is why the BJP is boycotting the interlocutors,” said Manhal.

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.

A nearly four month-long spate of strikes and frequent imposition of curfews have kept the Muslim-majority Kashmir valley on the boil, shutting down much of the region, where tens of thousands have been killed, since an insurgency raised its ugly hood in 1989. (ANI)