Centre's interlocutors get backing of Omar; BJP slams them

Srinagar/Jammu, Oct 25 (PTI) Centre's interlocutors on
Kashmir Monday got the backing of Chief Minister of the
north Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir Omar Abdullah
for comments on involving Pakistan to resolve the issue but
the opposition Bhartiya Janata Party accused them of dabbling
in issues beyond their mandate while the ruling Congress said
no party should play politics on such a sensitive matter.
Omar said the comments made by Dileep Padgaonkar,
heading the three-member group, that Pakistan has to be
involved for a permanent solution to the Jammu and Kashmir
issue cannot be ignored.
"Nothing what the interlocutors had said with regard
to Pakistan's role in Jammu and Kashmir is wrong. After Simla
agreement whenever talks were held with Pakistan, Kashmir has
figured in it," he told reporters here.
Parliament had passed a resolution in 1995 calling
for withdrawal of Pakistani troops from Pakistan Occupied
Kashmir, Omar said on the sidelines of a function here in
state capital Srinagar.
"Rightly or wrongly, is it not making Pakistan a
party. Pakistan has a role in Jammu and Kashmir. How can you
ignore it?" asked the Chief Minister.
In Jammu, Pradesh BJP Spokesperson Nirmal Kamal
slammed Padgaonkar of "dabbling on issues" which are against
the mandate given to the interlocutors.
She said Padgaonkar's statement creates doubts about
whether the interlocutors are really carrying forward the
stated agenda or they are on some other mission.
It also raises questions on what exactly is the brief
to these interlocutors by Indian Prime Minister's Office in
the state, Kamal said.
In the capital New Delhi, Congress steered clear of
questions on whether it supports the stand of Padgaonkar,
saying no party should play politics on such a sensitive
matter