Bilal Gani Lone, once a prominent figure in the Hurriyat Conference, has returned to Kashmir’s troubled political landscape with a sharp critique of the separatist movement’s failures and a call for restoring dignity to the region’s people. In a candid interview with Deccan Herald, Lone dismissed the notion that Pakistan could seize Kashmir through force or rhetoric as “absurd,” signaling a shift away from ideological battles toward addressing the practical needs of Kashmiris, particularly its disillusioned youth.

In his interview to PTI he said ” “Hurriyat is no more relevant as on date. Hurriyat is not even functional. Let’s be honest about it… when you talk about Hurriyat as on date, it’s not present anywhere in Kashmir… Hurriyat conference has lost relevance because we could not act. So the concept of Hurriyat may have been good at that time… but when we visualise Hurriyat today, it is non-functional…”

The Hurriyat Conference, once a central force in Kashmir’s separatist politics, is now, in Lone’s words, “non-functional,” discredited, and irrelevant. Reflecting on its shortcomings, he admitted, “We promised our people dignity but failed to deliver. We faltered.” Lone’s critique is both a self-reflection and a condemnation of the movement’s inability to secure meaningful outcomes for Kashmiris.

Lone, whose father, Abdul Gani Lone, was assassinated in 2002 by Hizbul Mujahideen militants, emphasized the need to honor the sacrifices of ordinary Kashmiris. “Every July 13, leaders from chief ministers to opposition figures visit the Martyrs’ Graveyard to commemorate the 1931 martyrs who fought for Kashmiri dignity,” he said. “But what about the one lakh people who died over the past 35 years? Who speaks for them? Their sacrifices are forgotten.”

He painted a grim picture of Kashmir’s current state, where a handful of political families and business houses—some controlling empires worth ₹7,000 crore—dominate power and wealth, leaving the poor with “graves, grief, and silence.” For Lone, this inequality and neglect are unacceptable. “We’ve lost generations to violence and broken promises,” he said. “Our youth don’t need bloodshed or slogans—they need education, peace, and dignity.”

Bilal’s re-entry into Kashmir’s political narrative is deeply personal. His father, a founder of the People’s Conference and an advocate for non-violence, was killed for his moderate stance. Bilal accused those close to his father, including his brother Sajjad Lone, of distorting and exploiting Abdul Gani Lone’s legacy. “My father stood for dignity and non-violence. His vision was misused, even by family,” he said, noting his divergence from Sajjad, who entered electoral politics and aligned with the BJP after 2002. “Do politics on your own merit, not by exploiting our father’s ideology.”

Bilal himself remained with the moderate Hurriyat faction led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq for some time but grew disillusioned with its compromises and diminishing relevance. Stepping back from active separatist politics, he now returns with a new focus—not to revive old ideologies but to confront hard truths.

Lone did not spare Pakistan in his critique, accusing it of exacerbating Kashmir’s wounds rather than healing them. “The idea that Pakistan could take Kashmir by force is a silly suggestion,” he said. “For all its rhetoric, Pakistan has done little but deepen our suffering. They should focus on helping, not dividing us.” He also acknowledged the Hurriyat’s failures, admitting that the movement squandered opportunities to secure tangible benefits for Kashmiris. “We had chances to achieve something for our people, but we missed them,” he said.

Bilal Lone’s return is not about reclaiming a leadership role in the Hurriyat but about advocating for a pragmatic, dignity-centered approach to Kashmir’s future. His message resonates with a youth exhausted by decades of conflict and unfulfilled promises. By prioritizing education, peace, and dignity over ideological battles, Lone aims to address the aspirations of a new generation and honor the memory of those lost to the region’s ongoing turmoil.