Advocating "baby steps" for pushing forward the dialogue process on Jammu and Kashmir, Centre's interlocutors on Wednesday said besides interacting with all shades of opinion in the state, they had a huge task of taking all the stakeholders in the country on board.
"The exercise will be futile if Parliament, which represents the political opinion of the country, is not taken on board. We know it is a huge task but it has to be done," Dileep Padgaonkar, who is heading the three-member panel, told reporters in a freewheeling interaction in Srinagar.
He said during the four days of interaction with the cross-section of the society in Kashmir, the interlocutors got a valuable insight into the issue as they attempt to find a comprehensive and permanent solution to it.
"We heard political opinions on Kashmir and also the day-to-day problems faced by the people like not being able to move freely or getting milk for children," Padgaonkar said.
He said one should not expect major strides after the first visit of the team to the state, saying, "We will have to take baby steps for pushing forward the dialogue process."
Padgaonkar said the group will be making recommendations to the Centre, after holding similar interactions in Jammu today and tomorrow, for improving the situation in the state.
{{/usCountry}}Padgaonkar said the group will be making recommendations to the Centre, after holding similar interactions in Jammu today and tomorrow, for improving the situation in the state.
{{/usCountry}}"The issue of release of political prisoners, stone pelters and lifting of curfew will be among the top priorities in the short term," he said.
Padgaonkar said he was of the opinion that peaceful assembly and protests should be allowed in the Valley. "We want to hear the view point of the security agencies also. Just because 12 youngsters want to hold protests, Section 144 CrPC (prohibitory orders) cannot be invoked."