Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 1: About to set off on maiden visit to Jammu and Kashmir after being appointed as Centre Government’s Special Representatives, Dineshwar Sharma said today that he was very positive about talks and hopeful that peace would return to the Kashmir Valley soon.
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), headed by Rajnath Singh, which has appointed Dineshwar Sharma as the Centre’s Special Representative on Jammu and Kashmir last Monday, meanwhile assessed security of Sharma and decided to place him in `Z’ category, both in the Union capital as well as during his visit to militancy-infested Kashmir. However, in J&K, he would be accorded additional protection by the State Government during his visits.
“I will go and see who all come forward for talks. I am positive about talks,” Dineshwar told a news agency in New Delhi as he braced up for his maiden visit to Jammu and Kashmir shortly.
Official sources told the Excelsior that top State Government leaders and officials were in touch with Dineshwar Sharma to facilitate his first visit to the State for meeting with the stakeholders. However, a final decision on first visit to J&K as the Centre’s Special Representative will be taken by Dineshwar Sharma himself after assessing the situation.
Apart from the State Government, sources said, top officials in the Ministry of Home Affairs, especially the Incharge of Jammu and Kashmir desk, were coordinating with the visit of the Special Representative on J&K, who has already been accorded status of the Cabinet Secretary.
Dineshwar Sharma said his first visit to Jammu and Kashmir will be to understand situation in the State and create conducive atmosphere for dialogue with all stakeholders. He expressed confidence that the people of Jammu and Kashmir including the Valley will cooperate with him as nobody wants violence to become part of their life.
“The people of Kashmir will have to realize what is good for them and what is bad. Hopefully, they will come forward for talks,” the Special Representative of the Centre on J&K said.
Meanwhile, the Centre has accorded ‘Z’ category armed security cover to Dineshwar Sharma.
Sources said Sharma would be secured by commandos of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) whenever he travels to any part of the country.
“Given his work profile, it was essential to provide the Special Representative a personal security cover. He will have about six to eight commandos with him at any given time,” sources said.
A pilot and escort vehicle will secure his convoy, he said.
A security review of Sharma’s residence in Delhi and analysis of his other requirements are on, and the VIP security team of the CRPF will soon take charge, sources said.
The CRPF has a special unit that provides armed VIP security to about 70 dignitaries at present.
The Central Government had recently notified the appointment of Sharma, former Director of the Intelligence Bureau, as its Special Representatives for sustained dialogue on Jammu and Kashmir.
Sharma, an old Kashmir hand in the country’s internal intelligence agency, enjoys the rank and status of a Cabinet Secretary.
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had said that Sharma would decide whom to engage with for a resolution of the Kashmir issue.
Sources said that apart from `Z’ security cover facilities, Sharma would have heightened security cover during his visits to Jammu and Kashmir to meet stakeholders. Police and Intelligence agencies have already devised security cover plan for Dineshwar Sharma in all three regions of the State including Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh.
Pointing out that Sharma enjoys the rank of Cabinet Secretary now, sources said, all possible facilities and arrangements for his visits to the State, which could be frequent, have been discussed and finalized to ensure his smooth visits and facilitation of dialogue on Jammu and Kashmir.
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