Kashmiri separatist leader Bilal Lone slams Hurriyat Conference for irrelevance, calls for Kashmiris to find place within India.

Bilal Gani Lone, a former separatist leader, has criticized the Hurriyat Conference, calling it "non-functional" and blaming Pakistan for creating "fissures" in Jammu and Kashmir. Lone urges the younger generation to accept the reality that India is a "big power" and find a space for themselves within the country, rather than following separatist rhetoric. He regrets the failures of the separatist movement and says the next generation should move on and stop seeing India through the lens of political parties.

Jammu and Kashmir, July 2, 2025 - Bilal Gani Lone, a former separatist leader and son of J&K People’s Conference founder Abdul Gani Lone, has publicly criticized the Hurriyat Conference, calling it "non-functional" and blaming Pakistan for creating "fissures" in Jammu and Kashmir. In an interview with PTI, Lone urged the younger generation to accept the reality that India is a "big power" and find a space for themselves within the country, rather than following separatist rhetoric.

Lone, who has shifted to mainstream politics, expressed regret over the failures of the separatist movement and stated that the Hurriyat Conference had "faltered" on opportunities to bring progress to the region. He noted that the separatist conglomerate, formed in 1993, has lost its relevance and is no longer functional. Lone also criticized Pakistan for its role in the region, stating that while the country had made statements, it had not taken concrete actions to help Kashmir.

The former separatist leader emphasized the importance of the new generation moving on and engaging with India. He advised them not to see the country through the lens of political parties but to "see India as India" and find a space for themselves within the country. Lone also highlighted the need to focus on the future of the new generation, including their education, health facilities, and prospects of setting up businesses.

In a direct assessment of the post-Article 370 situation, Lone stated that while the provision may have been politically hollow, it was a "psychological victory" for Kashmiris. He also noted that while the BJP government may have won a "military war" by abrogating Article 370, it has "lost Kashmiris" by making the people feel "subdued" and "suppressed."

Lone's shift to mainstream politics is driven by a desire to pay back his people and focus on their future. He is not in the race for any position but is motivated by a genuine political process. His new political narrative will go beyond basic amenities like roads, power, and water to focus on the future of the new generation.

Meanwhile, the United States has designated The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of the Pakistan-based terrorist organization Lashkar-e-Tayyiba, as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and Specially Designated Global Terrorist. This move was hailed by India, which has consistently emphasized the need for global cooperation in the fight against terrorism. India remains committed to a policy of zero tolerance towards terrorism and will continue to work closely with its international partners to ensure that terrorist organizations and their proxies are held accountable [2].

References:
[1] https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/jammu-and-kashmir/hurriyat-irrelevant-kashmiris-must-move-on-find-place-for-themselves-within-india-bilal-lone/article69831591.ece
[2] https://www.newsonair.gov.in/eam-jaishankar-welcomes-us-move-to-designate-trf-as-global-terrorist-group/