Dialogue with all stakeholders in Kashmir issue need to start immediately, says Yashwant Sinha

Sinha also said that there is only one narrative about the people of Kashmir and that is essentially that of the Hurriyat. 

MUMBAI: Former external affairs minister Yashwant Sinha has urged the government to re-start the dialogue with all the stakeholders involved in the Kashmir issue.

"Talk to people. Start the dialogue process," Sinha said as he unfolded the experiences of the Concerned Citizen's Group during their Kashmir visit.

"We have not come to any conclusion as to this is the solution to the Kashmir issue. But, the things that need to be done immediately is to abide by the terms of alliance, taking lesson by Bajpai era and talking to all the stake holders," Sinha said.

"The agenda of alliance of the present government in Kashmir has two important points viz. no tampring with article 370 and a fare process of dialogue needs to start," he added.

While putting forth his observation that there is a sense of complete betrayal and disbelief amongst the people of Kashmir, Sinha made a reference to the recent agitations in Tamilnadu.

"What has happened in Tamilnadu would be noticed the most in Kashmir," he said adding that people have started questins like if an SC order was set aside by an ordinance and judicial inquiry was ordered into police excesses even while there were no deaths in one state, why can’t it be done in Kashmir.

"President's address before the joint seating of both the houses of parliament did not have any reference to Kashmir today. How can we ignore a region that has been under cerfew for over five months now to such an extent," he asked.

Sinha also said that there is only one narrative about the people of Kashmir and that is essentially that of the Hurriyat. 

"We Indians have a strong case. But, we have not been able to communicate it since we are not speaking to them. I told some of the people we met that we would like some day to argue with them over some of the points they are making. But, to be able to do that we need to start dialogue," Sinha said.

"We need to reachout to the people and the territory will follow. We can still regain the lost ground," he said.

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