Date:20/02/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/02/20/stories/2003022006040100.htm

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N.N. Vohra, new interlocutor for J&K

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI FEB. 19. The former Home Secretary, N.N. Vohra, will be the Centre's interlocutor for Jammu and Kashmir. The announcement was made by the Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani, while replying to a question in the Rajya Sabha on whether the Government was taking any steps to begin a dialogue with the elected representatives and separatist groups in Kashmir.

The announcement came as a surprise. Although the Government had in principle decided to appoint Mr. Vohra — and he had had meetings with both the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister and the Principal Secretary in the PMO, Brajesh Mishra — the announcement was not expected until much later. For, the fine print of his position (including whether it is a full-time or part-time appointment) and the remit of his job (among other things, whom the dialogue should or should not include) have yet to be settled.