Centre finalises interlocutors for J-K dialogue process

New Delhi, Oct 13 (ANI): The Union Home Ministry on Wednesday appointed eminent journalist Dilip Padgaonkar, Information Commissioner M M Ansari and academician Professor Radha Kumar as interlocutors in the Jammu and Kashmir dialogue process.

Union Home Minister P Chidambaram has expressed hope that the interlocutors for Jammu and Kashmir will begin their work as early as possible and appealed to all sections of society to engage with the interlocutors to bring a solution.

"The three interlocutors are very credible people and they will begin work as early as possible. We may add one more interlocutor later," he said.

The decision to appoint a set of interlocutors was taken at the Cabinet Committee on Security meeting chaired by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on September 25.

The terms and references of the panel will be to hold talks all shades of opinion including mainstream political parties and separatists. The panel will cover views of all the three regions--Jammu, Ladakh and Kashmir.

The Centre had recently announced an eight-point package of initiatives with the immediate objectives to maintain peace and order and defuse the situation in Jammu and Kashmir through confidence building measures. (ANI)