Jammu, Sep 16: New-Delhi appointed Interlocutors Friday ruled out any delay in submission of their final report on ‘political solution’ of Jammu and Kashmir, saying they will submit it to the Government of India before October 12.
“Our term comes to end on October 12 this year. The report will be handed over before that,” chief interlocutor and noted journalist Dilip Padgaonkar told reporters here.
“There will be absolutely no delay. I don’t know where people get this stuff from,” he said while referring to media reports about delay in submitting their report to the Centre.
 Padgaonkar alongwith other members of the panel, academician Prof Radha Kumar and former Information Commissioner MM Ansari were on their 12th visit to Jammu and Kashmir since their appointment on October 13 last.
 The Government of India has appointed them to find out practical, feasible and workable solution regarding Jammu and Kashmir by accommodating aspirations of the people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh to the largest possible extent.
 The interlocutors arrived in Jammu on Friday afternoon. They straightway drove to Samba, the only district which they hadn’t visited so far in Jammu region.
 Asked about the media reports that interlocutors may recommend special status for Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 of the Constitution as a “permanent” solution, Padgaonkar remarked, “I don’t respond to such speculation.”
 He, however, said the panel had visited Samba district and met groups of Panchs and Sarpanchs besides 20 odd delegations representing political parties and civil society groups. “The interactions and meetings were satisfactory and held in cordial atmosphere,” he said.
 Official sources said they were scheduled to visit some forward areas on the Line of Control (LoC) at Nangi Tekri in Krishna Ghati sector of Poonch district. “They were scheduled to meet the civilians residing in forward areas and have a detailed interaction with them but their chopper could not take off due to bad weather and heavy rains,” sources added.
 The panel drove to the Northern Command headquarters in Udhampur to meet the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Northern Command, Lt Gen KT Parnaik. “The panel had a detailed briefing from the GOC-in-C on current security scenario in the state and various initiatives taken by the army for the development of the state,” sources maintained.
 “Before flying to Srinagar tomorrow, the interlocutors will meet some individuals, including intellectuals and columnists,” they said.
 On Friday, the interlocutors had to face the wrath of the BJP workers in Samba for their alleged “Kashmir centric approach”.
 So far, the interlocutors have visited 18 districts, met 550 delegations to hear the aspirations, demands, problems and view points of political parties, academicians, writers, NGOs, social, religious and community organizations and from the civil society.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 16 Sep 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 16 Sep 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 17 Sep 2011 00:00:00 IST