Padgaonkar: I never said it!

SHUCHISMITA JAMMU, Dec 17: The third visit of interlocutors, appointed by the Centre on Kashmir, to the state, which began today, got mired into a new controversy as the Head of three-member panel Dileep Padgaonkar did a volte-face yet again! He retracted from his earlier statement vis-àvis “functioning of J&K administration” which he has described as “not particularly efficient, not particularly sensitive” made in conversation with the noted journalist Saeed Naqvi aired on ‘News X.’ Padgaonkar took a Uturn after being inundated with media queries, after his arrival in the winter capital, pertaining to a new report about his remarks published in 'Kashmir Times' based on this interview.

The chief interlocutor maintained, “I have seen in a newspaper, published from here, certain quotations that have been attributed to me.

They relate to what I have allegedly said about the Chief Minister of the state.

I wish to state categorically that all those remarks are fabricated from end to end.

I have never uttered those words.

I would only suggest you to have a look at the interview conducted by Saeed Naqvi and then judge for yourself.

You are a responsible media and you draw your own conclusions.” Notably the transcript of the interview, which had a repeat telecast also, gives a lie to his claims.

The transcript of the excerpts, where he is commenting about the functioning of the J&K administration in response to a question of Naqvi about the youth of the Valley, reads as: “Padgaonkar:……I give the latest example.

The central assistance to the tune of Rs 6000 Cr has been given to Jammu and Kashmir.

The figures which I’ve got two days ago suggest that not even 30 percent of that has been spent.

Why not? Saeed Naqvi: Now that depends on the governance of the day, I mean it depends upon Omar Abdullah.

Why he is not spending, did you ask him? Padgaonkar: Yes, we’ve been asking him.

And… Saeed Naqvi: What did he say? Padgaonkar: Well, he has got to deal with an administration that is not particularly efficient, that is particularly not sensitive to the need to be accountable.

Few years ago the assembly did pass the RTI (Right to Information) bill but they’ve not put in place the human infrastructure needed for that.…….

Naqvi: The building is there.

But the man is not there.

Padgaonkar: But the people are not there…So there is… there are these problems….” (For link log on: NewsX.com_withsaeed or http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_yVMGClO6s & http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUpSTHzY2Hc).

While responding to the media questions here on the very first day of panel’s visit, the chief interlocutor, however, claimed, “We are not here to pass judgements.

We have our own mandate and that mandate is to focus tightly on trying to evolve a broad consensus on a political settlement in J&K.” Notably in the end of same interview, he has bailed out Omar government stating he should be given time as any person who is entrusted job should be given free hand.

Even on account of question related to praising the “self rule” document of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the interview, the chief interlocutor stated, “I had never used the word better or any such thing what I did say was that we have received two documents, one produced by NC and it relates to Autonomy and the other one was produced by PDP on self-rule.

I then went on to say that we are going to ask and request all others to come up with detailed suggestions on how we can go about to bring a political settlement which is acceptable to people of all three regions of the state and to each community residing with in the region.

Absolutely no such words were said.

No judgements were passed on either of them and I don’t know where these words have come from ..” The chief interlocutor reiterated, “I again say, not a single word that is attributed to me, those words were never ever pronounced.

Please ask for a transcript.

I understand that the interview is going to be on air shortly and you can see it yourself.” However, in the transcript of the interview while responding to Naqvi’s question about PDP’s self-rule as whether he thinks that it is a workable document, Padgaonkar states, “I think that is the document that needs to be given utmost consideration because unlike others who remain with slogans here they go into substance.

And this is what we’ve been urging to Hurriyat factions…” In a question related to reduction of troops and revocation of AFSPA, he maintained, “These demands are constantly under review and anything that fulfills aspirations of the people will be done.

This is only one thing, there are several other things which are also listed there in the list of recommendations and our aim is to ensure that certain Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) are put in place to facilitate the dialogue for seeking a political settlement.” Padgaonkar said that after their two visits, they made a number of recommendations.

“We have suggested number of recommendations and large number of these recommendations have been vetted and cleared.

There are certain recommendations which pertain to the central government and others to the state government.

We are convinced that these set of recommendations will be met.” The Chief interlocutor said that this was their third visit in continuation of their mission.

He said, “Today we are in Jammu and tomorrow we will be going to Poonch and Rajouri and meeting whole range of people there.” He said at the end of the visit they would meet media and give their impression.

He reiterated that their focus is to meet as many people as possible to ascertain their ideas about political settlement of the issue.

On a question about the recommendations made by the interlocutors, he said all of them have been published in the newspapers.

He said these recommendations were in the nature of CBMs.

“I do not think they can be a substitute for a political settlement,” he said adding “in order to facilitate a dialogue a certain number of CBMs are required.

Accordingly, we made certain suggestions and the Government of India has been looking at them with great sympathy.

We are convinced that these are going to be implemented.” Earlier Padgaonkar accompanied by another member of the panel eminent economist M M Ansari reached Jammu this morning.

The third interlocutor, Radha Kumar, a well known academician would join them on Saturday.

The trio would wind up their state visit on December 23.

The interlocutors’ panel would proceed for border district Poonch on Saturday and visit Rajouri on December 19.

It would return to Jammu on December 20 and meet different delegations before leaving for Srinagar on December 21.

The team would leave for the union capital on December 23 and would submit its review report to the Union Home Minister.

Notably the earlier two visits of three interlocutors too had been mired in controversies following their ‘controversial’ statements vis-à-vis advocating the role of Pakistan in J&K issue and “endorsing” amendment in Indian Constitution to accommodate a “discussion on Azadi option.” Yet later they had maintained that they were misquoted or quoted out of context.

Earlier this panel met a number of delegations besides top brass of security agencies.

Later in the evening, they also called on the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.

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