Former separatist leader Bilal Gani Lone has said that the Hurriyat Conference has lost all relevance and is no longer functioning. Speaking to PTI Videos, Lone said, “Hurriyat is no more relevant as on date. Hurriyat functional bhi nahi hai. Let’s be honest about it… when you talk about Hurriyat as on date, it’s not present anywhere in Kashmir.”
Lone, who once aligned with the separatist camp, admitted that people had earlier placed their trust in the Hurriyat. But now, he said, it has failed to deliver. “The concept of Hurriyat may have been good at that time… but when we visualise Hurriyat today, it is non-functional and somewhere, Hurriyat has faltered. No doubt about that,” he said.
He also criticised Pakistan’s role in Kashmir, saying it had only worsened the situation. “We have heard many statements but nothing has come out of it. Pakistan should help Kashmir in soothing things here, rather than creating fissures,” he said.
Responding to those who believe Pakistan could take Kashmir by force, Lone said it was a “very silly suggestion.” Referring to recent tensions along the border, he said, “Not even an inch moved at the border.”
Calling for a new approach, Lone said, “We need to come out of this mess—whether it is with or without Pakistan, we have to come out of this.” He expressed regret over missed opportunities during the separatist movement. “Hurriyat Conference had got a lot of opportunities. We faltered somewhere. We could have got something for our people, but we couldn’t. That’s the reality, let’s be honest about it.”
Lone said he joined mainstream politics not for power, but out of a personal conviction. “I have no regrets being on the other side of the fence, but the only regret, which is a very big one, is that we could not do anything. Much could have been done, but we could not,” he said. “Dair aaye, durust aaye (better late than never).”
He added that he was not interested in positions like chief minister or MLA. “I think I need to pay it back. So for me, it is a payback time,” he said.
Lone said his political work would focus on the youth and their future—education, health, and job creation. “We have to talk about their future, which includes their education, health facilities, and prospects of setting up business,” he said.
Calling violence the biggest reason for suffering, Lone said, “Violence ne yahan par barbaadi hi laayi hai (violence has only brought destruction here). It has finished generations.”
He also warned that “those who tried to defeat India have failed miserably,” and said it was time to accept that reality and move on.
