September 18, 2025

Abdul Gani Bhat, the former chairman of the Hurriyat Conference and a respected moderate voice in Kashmir politics, passed away peacefully at his home in Sopore on Wednesday. He was 90 years old. Bhat had been in poor health and mostly stayed inside his house in Sopore, Baramulla district, during his last years. Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, the current Hurriyat chairman, confirmed the sad news and said, "I just received a call from Bhat Sahib's son confirming the sad news about the demise of the veteran leader." The family plans to bury him in his ancestral graveyard in Sopore. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed his condolences, saying, "Though our political ideologies were poles apart, I will always remember him as a very civil person." On his X account, Abdullah said, "He had the courage to espouse the cause of dialogue when many believed violence was the only way forward. This resulted in him meeting the then PM Vajpayee ji & Deputy PM Advani ji..." PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti also paid tribute, sharing, "Despite differing political views, I turned to him for solace during difficult times... He was a voice of moderation amidst the tumultuous history of Kashmir, an esteemed scholar, teacher, and intellectual with a pragmatic approach to politics. A strong advocate for the peaceful resolution of the Kashmir issue, his influence was profound." Mirwaiz Umar Farooq called Bhat’s death a huge personal loss. He said, "Just heard the very sad news that I lost the affectionate elder, a dear friend and colleague, Prof. Abdul Ghani Bhat Sahib, who passed away sometime ago. Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un. A huge personal loss! May Allah grant him the highest place in Jannah. Kashmir has been bereft of a sincere and visionary leader." During the peak of militancy in Kashmir, Bhat stood out as a peacemaker among fiery separatist leaders like Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Masarat Alam. He firmly believed in dialogue with New Delhi as the path to solve Kashmir’s long-standing troubles. Bhat played a key role in bringing the Hurriyat Conference to talks with the Indian central government under the NDA led by Atal Behari Vajpayee, and later during the UPA government headed by Manmohan Singh. In fact, Bhat was the last chairman of the undivided Hurriyat, before the group split over the decision to engage with New Delhi. He was also known for opposing the use of guns in political struggle and was against frequent shutdowns in Kashmir that hurt normal life. Born in 1935 at Botengoo in Sopore, Bhat was a well-educated man. He graduated in Persian studies from Sri Pratap College, Srinagar, and later earned postgraduate degrees in Persian and law from Aligarh Muslim University. He was a professor of Persian and worked in government service before joining politics. In 1986, Bhat co-founded the Muslim United Front (MUF) and was jailed after the 1987 elections. He revived the Muslim Conference in Jammu and Kashmir, which became a key part of the Hurriyat Conference formed in 1993. Abdul Gani Bhat's life was a blend of scholarship, courage, and a strong push for peace – making him a unique and cherished figure in Kashmir’s troubled political saga.

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Tags: Abdul gani bhat, Hurriyat conference, Kashmir politics, Peace talks, Separatist leader, Dialogue advocacy,