Hurriyat Conference No More Relevant, Says Former Separatist Bilal Gani Lonee
Former separatist leader Bilal Gani Lone has publicly acknowledged the irrelevance of the Hurriyat Conference and taken a sharp departure from his earlier stance, holding both the separatist leadership and Pakistan responsible for the political disarray and missed opportunities in Jammu and Kashmir.
In a strikingly candid interview with PTI Videos, Lone offered an introspective look at the past 35 years of separatist politics, underlining the urgent need to embrace reality and pivot toward a genuine, constructive political process.
Hurriyat’s Fall from Relevance
Bilal Lone, once a prominent figure in the separatist movement, declared that the Hurriyat Conference, formed in 1993 as a united front of separatist voices, has become completely non-functional and obsolete.
He admitted that while the idea of the Hurriyat may have held promise in the past, it has ultimately failed to deliver on that promise. “Let’s be honest about it—Hurriyat today does not exist on the ground. It’s irrelevant now,” Lone stated.
He emphasized that the separatist conglomerate had once enjoyed considerable public trust but failed to translate that into meaningful action or results.
He conceded that the Hurriyat had ample opportunities to bring change, yet squandered them. “We faltered. We could have achieved something for the people, but we didn’t,” he said, calling for an honest reckoning with the past.
According to Lone, it’s time the people are told the truth about what transpired during the three decades of insurgency and unrest.
Pakistan’s Role in the “Mess”
In a bold critique, Lone accused Pakistan of deepening divisions in Kashmir rather than helping to resolve them. “We’ve heard plenty of statements from Pakistan, but nothing concrete has ever come of it,” he said.
He further asserted that the idea that Pakistan could take Kashmir by force was not only outdated but “very silly.” Using a recent 48-hour standoff at the border as an example, he pointed out that despite the escalation, “not even an inch moved.”
“Pakistan should work to soothe the situation in Kashmir instead of creating fissures,” Lone remarked, making it clear that violence and confrontation have yielded nothing but suffering for generations of Kashmiris.
A Shift Toward Constructive Politics
Lone explained that his transition into mainstream Indian politics is not motivated by ambition but by a sense of duty to the people of Kashmir, particularly the younger generation. “I’m not here to become an MLA or a Chief Minister.
I want to pay back my people,” he said. His political focus, he said, would not be limited to roads, electricity, or water but would include education, healthcare, employment, and entrepreneurship for the youth. “The real casualty of violence has been the younger generation. They need a future, not slogans,” he added.
For Lone, violence has only led to ruin, and the separatist movement has resulted in generations being lost. “A Kashmiri today is nowhere—we are at the receiving end. We must emerge from this darkness.”
Facing the Truth About India
Perhaps the most radical part of Lone’s message was his call to see India beyond the lens of political ideologies. Urging youth to discard their biases, he said, “India is too big a power to fight. Don’t look at India as the BJP or Congress. See India as India, and find your place in it.”
He cautioned that those who have tried to “defeat India” in the past have only ended up failing miserably. The only viable path forward, he said, is to accept this reality and carve a future within the Indian democratic system.
Reflections on Article 370 and Delhi’s Approach
Lone also addressed the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, calling it a “psychological loss” for Kashmiris even if it was already “politically hollow.”
He acknowledged that while the government might see its removal as a military or constitutional victory, it has alienated the people emotionally. “The people feel subdued, suppressed,” he said.
Although he described himself as “too small a man” to advise the Prime Minister, Lone urged the Central Government to embrace the people of Kashmir. “You must stop looking at Kashmir as a vote bank. Come, feel the pulse of the people, and listen to voices beyond political parties.”
Security Without Trust
He acknowledged that law and order are under control, but attributed it to the “force of the stick” rather than genuine trust. The biggest issue in Kashmir today, Lone said, is the collapse of trust between the people and the system. He believes that what is needed is reconciliation, not just between nations, but between people.
“We need to build trust again. Not with guns, but with sincerity and honesty,” he stressed, especially with the new generation that has no memory of the past but every stake in the future.
In closing, Lone encapsulated his ideological shift with the Hindi saying: “Der aaye durust aaye” (Better late than never). It is, he said, not a change of heart but a change of purpose—one that puts the well-being of Kashmir’s future generations above all else.
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