Former Hurriyat leader and veteran separatist politician, Prof Abdul Gani Bhat, passed away on Wednesday evening at his residence in Botingoo, Sopore in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district. He was 85.
Family sources confirmed that Bhat breathed his last after a brief illness. “He had not been keeping well for some time and passed away peacefully at his home,” a family member told reporters. Details regarding his funeral prayers and burial will be announced by the family later.
A Key Separatist Voice in Kashmir
Prof Abdul Gani Bhat was a well-known figure in Kashmir’s separatist politics spanning over three decades. Starting his political journey as a co-founder of the Muslim United Front (MUF) in 1986, he rose to prominence during the turbulent years of militancy in the Valley.
In 1993, he became one of the founding members of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC), an umbrella coalition of separatist groups, where he later served as chairman. Under his leadership, the Hurriyat played a key role in articulating the separatist narrative, often engaging in dialogues and debates on the Kashmir issue both within and outside India.
He also served as the president of the Muslim Conference, Jammu and Kashmir (MCJK), a political outfit later banned by the Government of India for its alleged links with separatist activities.
Known for Moderate Stance
Though firmly rooted in separatist politics, Prof Bhat was often described as a moderate voice within the Hurriyat. He was known for advocating dialogue between India, Pakistan, and Kashmiri representatives as a pathway to resolve the Kashmir dispute. His speeches and writings reflected a blend of intellectualism and political insight, which earned him respect across political divides.
Public and Political Reactions
News of his demise has led to an outpouring of condolences from political, social, and civil society circles in Kashmir. Several local leaders remembered him as a seasoned politician and an academic who shaped the separatist discourse in the Valley.
Authorities have said that necessary arrangements will be put in place to ensure smooth conduct of his last rites.
Prof Abdul Gani Bhat’s passing marks the end of an era in Kashmir’s separatist politics, as he was among the last of the senior leaders who played a formative role in the establishment and growth of the Hurriyat Conference in the 1990s.
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