Mixed response to report on J&K

The interlocutors’ report on Jammu and Kashmir, which was released by the Union Home Ministry on Thursday in New Delhi, has evoked mixed response in the state. While the separatists rejected the recommendations of the report outright, mainstream leaders had mixed opinions.

The report, while dealing with Centre-state relations and internal devolution of power, suggests a road map listing confidence-building measures that includes review of Disturbed Areas Act and re-appraisal of application of the controversial AFSPA.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah refused to comment on the report. “Dear friends in the media, I will not be reacting to the interlocutors report for the time being,” he wrote on micro-blogging site Twitter.

However, Mehboob Beg of  the National Conference termed the report “disappointing.” “I want to know whether it is the original report or it is Home Ministry report. We have right to know what they (Home Ministry) were doing with the report for the last six months,” he told Deccan Herald “There is contradiction in the report. It (report) even challenges Justice Sagheer Group report which was formed by the prime minister,” he added.

The Peoples Democratic Party president and chief spokesman Nayeem Akhtar said: “It (report) has some positive recommendations but lot needs to be done beyond that.”
“There are some good points and some deficiencies in the report. Political dimension and strong external dimension is missing in the report. Mechanism on relations between two parts of Kashmir is also missing in the report,” Akhtar told Deccan Herald.

CPM state secretary and MLA M Y Tarigami, while reacting on the report said: “It needs careful study and wider debate. There are recommendations of sensitive issue in the report. It would have been better had the Government of India tabled the report in the Parliament as it was in session till a few days ago.” Peoples Democratic Front chairman and MLA Hakim Mohammad Yasin said: “Such reports and recommendations have been made in past also. What happened to the Justice Sagheer report? What happened to the committee formed after Indira-Sheikh Accord in 1975?”