SRINAGAR: Diplomat-turned-politician Mani Shankar Aiyar is in Kashmir Valley for past couple of days. He is meeting people, and attending academic seminars and events giving rise to voices hinting that the Congress leader is part of Narendra Modi government’s back channel efforts to normalise situation in the Valley.
Mani Shankar Aiyar is meeting Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani at his Hyderpora residence in Srinagar to discuss the prevailing situation in the Valley.
Mani Shankar Aiyar is part of civil society group from New Delhi. Aiyar yesterday attended a conference, organized by NGO Centre for Peace and Progress. The theme of the conference was Discussion on Jammu and Kashmir, The Road Ahead.
The civil society activists have been insisting that the Centre should hold talks with both Hurriyat leaders and Pakistan for a long-term peace in Kashmir Valley.
BACK CHANNEL TALKS GOING ON?
Mani Shankar Aiyar’s meeting with Syed Ali Shah Geelani comes after a similar delegation led by veteran BJP leader Yashwant Sinha – who, too, is a diplomat-turned-politician. Yashwant Sinha had met several sections of Kashmiri separatist leaders including Syed Ali Shah Geelani last year.
However, Geelani had later refused to meet a section of leaders from the All Party Delegation from New Delhi later.
This time, while Geelani is meeting Aiyar, Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chairman Yasin Malik has refused to meet the Congress leader. It is being said Mani Shankar Aiyar had sought an appointment but Yasin Malik rejected the request.
Though, it is not clear at this point, whether Mani Shankar Aiyar is in communication with some in the Narendra Modi government as he meets Syed Ali Shah Geelani. But, the timing of his meeting has given rise to such speculations.
Aiyar has been critical of the Narendra Modi government and the Prime Minister over a range of issues.
