New Delhi, Oct 29 (PTI) Dineshwar Sharma, the Centre'sspecial representative for talks on Kashmir, said today thathis focus in the new role would be to prevent the Valley'syouth from falling prey to false online propaganda.
Sharma, who will be heading for his maiden visit in hisnew role to Jammu and Kashmir later this week, said counteringfalse sloganeering and propaganda available online will tophis agenda to wean away youth from wanton violence.
"Surprisingly, everyone asks me whether I want to meetHurriyat and other separatists groups. I am open to meetingall as has been made clear by the Union home minister (RajnathSingh) while making the announcement. Why does this doubtarise in the first place," 61-year-old Sharma, an old hand onKashmir, told PTI here.
"I am going to the Valley with no blinkers on. I amwilling to meet every common person who has a genuinegrievance," he said.
A 1979-batch IPS officer of the Kerala cadre, who rose tothe prestigious post of Director of Intelligence Bureau, hasbeen appointed as the Centre's representative for sustaineddialogue on Jammu and Kashmir.
When asked why his focus was on the youth, Sharma said,"One needs to understand that the youth and students are ourfuture. They have to take forward Jammu and Kashmir to newheights in the next few years and that is why my attempt is toclear their misconceptions at this stage so that they progresswith a focused vision."He said today there were reports that young Kashmiriswere getting radicalised by false online propaganda.
"One needs to counter it and it is a full-time job. Wehave to provide answers to their queries and I hope that Iwill be able to do that," he said.
Hailing from Bihar, Sharma said that his emotionalattachment with Kashmir dates back to his first field postingto the Valley in 1992.
"Much water has flown down this bridge since that time.
My focus will be to build dams of peace around the rivers ofthe Valley," he said.
Sharma referred to the statement made by Prime MinisterNarendra Modi during his Independence Day speech and said, "Iam simply carrying forward the message of peace as envisagedby the Prime Minister who also focuses on the youth of thenation as well as the state."Replying to a question about demands made by somepolitical parties that Pakistan should also be made a party tothe Kashmir issue, Sharma quipped, smilingly, "My mandate isto ensure peace for my people. Issues beyond this are out ofmy syllabus."Asked when he would embark on a visit to the Valley,Sharma said "it will be later this week."To a question on how his appointment as the Centre'spoint man was different from other such moves previously,Sharma said, "I am not in the business of comparison. I have ajob to perform to the best of my abilities and I will do that.
Comparison is for the historians to do." PTI SKL ASK BDSASK.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.
