Jammu and Kashmir political leader Bilal Gani Lone has said that staying away from the democratic process in the past was “not a good decision,” as he reflected on Kashmir’s political history and the challenges that shaped politics in the region.
In an interview with Hala Bol News, Lone said that the practice of issuing “hartal calendars” was largely associated with the hardline Hurriyat faction led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani.
Speaking about the Hurriyat Conference and the broader political environment in Kashmir, Lone said that irrespective of the ideology pursued by the Mirwaiz-led Hurriyat faction, political actors in the region faced pressure from multiple quarters.
He cited extremist elements, militant organisations and pressure tactics from Pakistan among the factors that complicated political decision-making and influenced the course of politics in Jammu and Kashmir.
Lone indicated that these pressures had a significant impact on the political environment and made participation in the democratic process more difficult.
His remarks come amid renewed debate over Kashmir’s political past, the role played by separatist organisations and the consequences of staying outside the democratic process.
