Former separatist leader Bilal Gani Lone has entered mainstream politics, aiming to represent his father's legacy and address the issues facing Kashmiri youth.
Hurriyat Conference leader Bilal Lone and his brother Sajjad broke their silence on the assassination of their father and separatist leader Abdul Gani Loni, 11 years after his death in 2002. The Lone brothers response comes almost a week after former Hurriyat Conference Chairman Abdul Gani Bhat created flutter by saying that Abdul Gani Lone was killed by their own men.
Saddam, a businessman, is the eldest among the two siblings. He has studied in England. Sofiya Nabi Azad, his sister, has studied journalism.
While Mirwaiz Farooq was assassinated inside his Nageen residence in capital city this day in 1990, Abdul Gani Lone, the founder of Peoples Conference (PC) fell to assassin's bullets the same day in 2002.
Peeved over the silence of leaders of separatist groups, their factions in Pakistan and in occupied-Kashmir are making desperate attempts to foment trouble in Jammu and Kashmir by giving calls from across the border for 'bandhs' and strikes to mark the death anniversary of Mirwaiz Farooq and Abdul Gani Lone, officials said.
Curfew-like restrictions were imposed in large parts of Srinagar on Saturday to foil Mirwaiz Umar Farooq's rally to commemorate his father's death anniversary.
Authorities on Tuesday imposed restrictions in old city in Srinagar to foil plans of moderate faction of Hurriyat Conference to hold a rally at Eidgah to commemorate the death anniversary of its two assassinated leaders.
Moderate separatist All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) chairman Mirwaiz Moulvi Umar Farooq on Friday categorically denied that "any quiet dialogue was going on between them and the Centre".
Sajjad is the younger son of Hurriyat leader Abdul Gani Lone who was assassinated on May 21, 2002, by militants
Authorities on Thursday placed the moderate All Parties Hurriyat Conference Chairman Mirwaiz Moulvi Umar Farooq under house arrest to scuttle a rally called by the separatist group.
"If we want freedom, we must first give it to those who seek it from us."
Terming the invitation by the Centre as 'positive', Lone said he also laid emphasis on identification of other parties and individuals necessary for an inclusive Kashmir participation in peace talks.
Lone, after accepting the invitation from the Prime Minister, said his party termed the move of the centre as "positive" and would emphasise identifying other parties and individuals necessary for inclusive participation.
Jamaat-e-Islami has removed the hardline leader in an attempt to moderate the extremist voices in the separatist amalgam.
Violence once again erupted in the Kashmir Valley when a group of people began to wave Pakistan and terror group Lashkar-e-Tayiba flags.
Moderate Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umer Farooq was placed under house arrest on Wednesday, a day ahead of his proposed rally to commemorate the death anniversary of his father who was assassinated by gunmen in 1990, the conglomerate said.
According to the order, all security and vehicles provided to the separatists will stand withdrawn by Sunday evening. No security forces or cover will be provided, under any pretext, to them or any other separatists. If they have any other facilities provided by the government, they are to be withdrawn forthwith.
Justifying the security extended to separatist leaders of Kashmir Valley, Union minister Jitendra Singh has said that they faced threat from Pakistan which might attack them to blame it on India.
'It is not possible that Kashmir will go totally to one country.' 'I don't see borders being changed anytime even in the distant future.'
Separatists and their wide network must be neutralized for peace in the Valley
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