Bilal Gani Lone, chairman of the People’s Independent Movement and former member of the separatist Hurriyat Conference, has announced his decision to join mainstream politics. The statement was made during an interview with a news agency.
Bilal is the son of the late Abdul Gani Lone, a founding member of the Hurriyat Conference who was assassinated by terrorists in 2002. His younger brother, Sajad Gani Lone—chairman of the People’s Conference—is also a former separatist who transitioned to mainstream politics and has previously served as a Cabinet Minister in Jammu and Kashmir with BJP’s support.
This move marks a significant shift in Bilal’s political journey, ending his long-standing association with the Hurriyat Conference, the separatist coalition formed in 1993.
Urging Kashmiri youth to recognise India as a powerful nation and participate in its democratic system, Bilal stressed the importance of prioritising education, healthcare, and employment over violence, which he said has only brought “devastation.”
Calling the Hurriyat Conference “irrelevant” and “non-functional,” Bilal remarked, “Hurriyat is no more relevant or functional as of now; it is not present anywhere in Kashmir.” He acknowledged that although the group once enjoyed public trust, it failed to capitalise on opportunities for Kashmir’s progress. “The Hurriyat Conference had many opportunities, but we missed them. We could have achieved something for our people, but we couldn’t. That’s the reality—let’s be honest about it,” he said.
