The Hindu : National : Centre's interlocutor on Kashmir resigns

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, May 26, 2004

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National

Centre's interlocutor on Kashmir resigns

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, MAY 25. The Centre's interlocutor on Kashmir, N.N. Vohra, who was involved in two rounds of preliminary talks between the Centre and the Hurriyat Conference, has resigned. He submitted his resignation to the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, two days ago, sources said.

Mr. Vohra who was appointed as the Centre's interlocutor on Kashmir in February last year had travelled extensively to the three regions of the State - Jammu, Kashmir Valley and Ladakh - in his efforts to initiate a dialogue process and bring about peace in the border State. After initial hiccups the NDA regime had shown its willingness to talk to the Hurriyat Conference and it was Mr. Vohra, a former Home Secretary, who did the spadework for bringing the separatist amalgam to have dialogue with the then Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani.

Though the new Union Home Minister, Shivraj Patil, has indicated the Government's willingness to continue the talks on Kashmir, the Congress-led coalition government would have to take a decision on whether to continue with Mr. Vohra or find his substitute. The Congress-led Government is yet to take a decision on whether to continue with Mr. Vohra or appoint someone else to continue the dialogue process.

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