Bilal Lone renames his faction of PC

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, January 30

To end confusion, Sajad Lone’s brother and Hurriyat leader Bilal Gani Lone on Wednesday rechristened his faction of People’s Conference (PC) as Jammu and Kashmir People’s Independent Movement.

Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq announced this during a ‘delegate session’ of the People’s Independent Movement. Mirwaiz was flanked by Bilal and senior separatist leader Prof Abdul Gani Bhat.

A faction of the People’s Conference, founded by late Abdul Gani Lone, was the constituent of All Parties Hurriyat Conference headed by Mirwaiz.

Another faction of the People’s Conference is headed by Sajad Lone, a former MLA from the Handwara constituency in north Kashmir. Sajad was also a Cabinet minister in the PDP-BJP coalition government.

“I was very close to my father and just to avoid confusion in taking forward my father’s legacy changing the name of my party was inevitable,” Bilal said.

Claiming the decision to change his faction’s name was taken after taking his workers into confidence, he said the organisational structure would remain “unchanged.”

Centre should respond to Pak’s talks offer: Mirwaiz 

Moderate Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Wednesday said the Government of India has to “move beyond the status quo” and reach out to Pakistan’s offer of talks. Speaking to reporters, he said, “Kashmir dispute is a reality and so is the fact that all three parties have to be involved in its lasting resolution. No amount of denial can change it.”