Former Hurriyat chairman Professor Abdul Gani Bhat, who became the face of Delhi-Srinagar talks with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government in the 2000s, passed away in north Kashmir's Sopore on Wednesday. He was 89 years old.

According to family members, Bhat had been unwell for the past few days and "passed away peacefully at his residence". Official sources said the administration suggested that the family "conclude the final rites by Wednesday night". Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and other colleagues from Srinagar were not allowed to visit Sopore.

Bhat was among the few separatist leaders whose political career arc spanned from mainstream electoral politics to seeking a final settlement to the Kashmir problem. Having quit his government job as a Persian professor to join politics, he co-founded the Muslim United Front (MUF) that contested the 1987 election. He later became the chairman of the Hurriyat, an amalgam of over 13 separatist groups, in the 1990s, and steered separatist politics for many years.

Pushed for talks

A staunch advocate of talks on Kashmir with both Delhi and Islamabad, Bhat was among the few separatist leaders who publicly met then-Deputy Prime Minister and BJP leader L.K. Advani in 2004 and clicked pictures with him. He earned both criticism and praise for his statements made after meeting Mr. Advani. "The peace process should proceed step by step. Guns should be replaced by political talks," Bhat had said after the first ever Delhi-Srinagar dialogue. He kept engaging Pakistani and Indian interlocutors to push for structured talks on Kashmir.

In 2017, Bhat was removed as the Muslim Conference president for meeting Delhi's special representative Dineshwar Sharma and expressing his willingness to talk to New Delhi. He had previously faced severe criticism from Hurriyat leaders in 2012 for saying that "United Nations' resolutions on Kashmir were inapplicable and the time has come to chart out a common minimum programme with the mainstream parties". He was also among the few separatist leaders who maintained a healthy relationship with mainstream leaders like Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) founder Mufti Muhammad Sayeed.

In 2024, the Ministry of Home Affairs declared Bhat's Muslim Conference an unlawful association under Section 3 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.

Tributes pour in

Bhat was a close associate and aide of Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq. "I lost an affectionate elder, a dear friend and colleague. A huge personal loss. Kashmir has lost one of its sincere and visionary leaders," the Mirwaiz said.

Expressing her condolences, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said, "I am deeply saddened. 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. On a personal note, he always showed me great affection, and I turned to him for solace during difficult times. Despite differing political views, he remained a close and respected friend of Mufti Saheb, and together, peace and reconciliation were the core of their political campaigns."

National Conference vice president and J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said he was "saddened to hear about the demise of senior Kashmiri political leader and academician Professor Abdul Gani Bhat Sb".

"Our political ideologies were poles apart but I will always remember him as a very civil person. He had the courage to espouse the cause of dialogue when many believed violence was the only way forward and this resulted in him meeting the then PM Vajpayee ji and Deputy PM Advani ji. May Professor Bhat sb find a place in Jannat," Mr. Abdullah said.

Former Hurriyat chairman Abdul Gani Bhat, who held talks with NDA leaders two decades ago, passes away