interlocutors reports on kashmir issue

The 176-page report was the outcome of the three interlocutors’ interaction with more than 700 delegations,6,000 people (including 1,000 sarpanches and panches) and three round-table conferences in 22 districts of J&K. The interlocutors were appointed on October 13, 2010, when the situation in Kashmir was inflamed following the death of 104 youth in clashes with the police. They submitted their report to then Home Minister P. Chidambaram on October 12, 2011. The group studied various peace initiatives taken by the Centre from 1999 to 2009. It also took into account various proposals of separatist factions after they refused to come on board. The panel concluded that acute problems in J&K stemmed from a mismatch of responses to a changing ground situation and unresolved issues of political status and Centre-state relations. Key recommendations The political settlement should take into account the deep sense of victimhood prevalent in the Valley. The state’s special status guaranteed under Article 370 must be upheld. A constitutional committee should be set up to review all Central Acts and Articles of the Constitution of India extended to the state after the signing of the 1952 Agreement. Resumption of the GoI-Hurriyat dialogue. Encourage Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir to enter into dialogue on recommendations made by the constitutional committee and points emerging from the GoI-Hurriyat dialogue. Agreement between India and Pakistan to promote civil society interaction in Jammu and Kashmir. If the stakeholders in Jammu & Kashmir are willing to enter into a settlement, the door should be kept open for Pakistan to join. Security arrangements, especially in relation to the Disturbed Area designation, need to be reviewed, and a decision taken on the Armed Forces Special Powers Act. Political suggestions Replace word ‘temporary’ from the heading of Article 370 and the title of Part XXI of the Constitution with the word ‘Special’. On Governor: The state government, after consultation with Opposition parties, should submit a list of three names to the President to select the Governor, who would hold office at the ‘pleasure of the President’. Article 356: Actions of the Governor are now justiciable in the Supreme Court. The present arrangement should continue, with the proviso that if the Governor places the state legislature under suspended animation, fresh elections should be held within three months. Create three regional councils, one each for Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh (the latter would no longer be a division of Kashmir).