Author: PTI
Publication: Daily Excelsior
Date: April 26, 2004
URL: http://www.dailyexcelsior.com/web1/04apr26/news.htm#8
Noted journalists M J Akbar and
Dilip Padgaonkar have resigned from the Ram Jethmalani-led Kashmir Committee
which was appointed by the Government to facilitate talks with seperatist
groups in Kashmir.
"We have resigned in view of Jethmalani
contesting the elections", Padgaonkar told reporters on the sidelines of
a book release function of Dr Manisha Tikekar's "Across the Wagah: An Indian
sojourn in Pakistan", here.
Padgaonkar said "we (himself and
Akbar) resigned from the committee and have sent seperate letters to Jethmalani
stating that after the Centre had initiated talks with seperate Kashmir
groups, the Kashmir Committee had lost its relevance since it was established
precisely to facilitate such talks".
Besides they also argued that the
prestige the Kashmir Committee enjoyed was due to its non-partisan character.
But with Jethmalani deciding to contest against the Prime Minister Vajpayee,
the credibility of Kashmir Committee has come under a cloud, Padgaonkar
said.
"Higly personalised nature of Jethmalani
had ended this credibility beyond repair", he added.
