Provincial status for Ladakh, dialogue with separatists, Sharma told in Kargil
TNN Bureau. Updated: 3/13/2018 1:33:17 AM
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LEH: A number of delegations, including religious and political organizations, which met centre-appointed interlocutor Dineshwar Sharma on Monday in the border town of Kargil, voiced for dialogue with separatists on Kashmir issue, and pressed for granting Provincial status for Ladakh region, besides a number of other demands.
Monday was Sharma's 2nd day of his maiden visit to Ladakh region after being appointed as an interlocutor for Kashmir in October last year by the Centre, to initiate a meaningful dialogue process with all stakeholders.
Official sources informed that several delegations, including members of Imam Khomeini Memorial Trust Kargil, Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat Kargil, Anjuman e Sahab Zaman Kargil, Anjuman e Sufia Noorbakshia Kargil, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Kargil, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Kargil, Indian National Congress (INC) Kargil and National Conference (NC) Kargil, met Sharma at Conference hall Baroo Kargil on Monday.
"We have unanimously called for resolution of Kashmir issue through a purposeful dialogue process by involving all stakeholders including Hurriyat conference, integrity of the state to be maintained at all costs, grant of provincial status to Ladakh region, construction of alternate highways and motorable roads like the Panikhar-Pahalgam Road, Hanu-Tiakshi Road over Chorbat La besides the opening of Kargil-Skardu and Nubra-Khapulu Roads," the delegations told reporters after meeting the centre-interlocutor.
The interlocutor had, during his maiden visit to the valley in November 2017, said that he will try his level best to bring the separatists onboard. However, he has not been able to make any headway as most of the trade unions and civil society leaders, apart from the separatists, have stayed away during his previous visits.