Cautioning against likely showdown over the issue of flag hoisting at Lal Chowk, which may disturb peace in J&K and thwart dialogue process, K-panel on Wednesday urged both the separatists and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to reconsider their decisions as “the important thing was not just to show the patriotism, but to facilitate the dialogue”.
The team of Central interlocutors headed by Dileep Padgaonkar, while reiterating that it would like to engage separatists in a dialogue, maintained, “If and when the Hurriyat and other separatist leaders would like to talk to us, we will have absolutely no hesitation in going where ever they wish us to go to engage in this dialogue.”
The chief interlocutor, however, asserted that any process (including the revival of silent dialogue by Centre) which would facilitate the emergence of a broad consensus for a political settlement was fine with the group. “We don’t insist on any kind of dialogue that is held under the glare of media. There might be occasions when it is necessary to be bit discreet about it, we have absolutely no problems. Whatever is convenient to them, it is fine by us provided the main objective is met,” he averred. The trio — Dileep Padgaonkar, Prof. Radha Kumar and M.M. Ansari — was interacting with the media after concluding first leg of their fourth visit to the state since their appointment in October last year.