Srinagar: As the Government of India’s (GoI) representative, Dineshwar Sharma is on his maiden visit to the Valley, the People Democratic Party (PDP) Wednesday said that the onus lies on the Union government to allay apprehensions and attract political, social and religious groups.

Welcoming centre’s representative, PDP Vice President, Mohammad Sartaj Madni hoped that the exercise undertaken will culminate into meaningful and tangible outcome , despite difficulties.

Heading his party’s delegation comprising senior party functionaries and legislators Madni told the interlocutor that PDP has always desired to hold talks with all stakeholders so that Jammu and Kashmir state is led to resolution of all issues in accordance with the wishes of the people.

He referred to initiatives taken by then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 2003 and how then Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Syed successfully changed the discourse in the state exhorting the interlocutor to take a holistic view of the situation to end the impasse.

The delegation included General Secretaries Nizamuddin Bhat and Qazi Afzal senior leader and legislator Mohmmad Khurshid Aalam, Mir Fayaz MP, Raja Manzoor, Abdul Rahim Rather and Mohammad Abbas Wani MLA’s.

Madni reminded the interlocutor about the trust deficit which impedes any good initiative for peace and resolution.

 He desired that centre should do everything possible to gain the confidence of the people and stake-holders in order to sustain the process of dialogue till every stake holder is willingly engaged.

He told the interlocutor that PDP took a brave step in forging alliance with BJP. But in the belief that like Vajpayee Prime Minister Narinder Modi will offer enough space for resolution of Kashmir imbroglio.

Madni told him that dialogue process should be seen as a sincere and honest effort to address issues than a mere response to violence.

He said that Interlocutor was told that public perception is of disbelief and cynicism in Kashmir.

“The onus is on Union Government to allay apprehensions and attract political, social and religious groups of all hues for a mutually agreed common ground,” he said.

Madni made it clear that unaccomplished agenda of BJP-PDP alliance is projected as another example for insincerity and viewed that conducive atmosphere needed for sustainable dialogue. “Fulfilling already made commitments was an imperative for this,” he added.

Madni told the interlocutor to reach out to sufferers and youth through compassion and with an open mind. He reminded him about the instability at huge expense of the people of the region and said once the process takes off, Pakistan’s involvement will further facilitate the process to make it result oriented.

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