ibn sultan
Srinagar, Sep 17: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and PDP President Mehbooba Mufti expressed their grief over the death of academician Prof Abdul Gani Bhat.
In a statement, the Chief Minister said, “I’m 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 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 Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji and Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani ji. May Professor Bhat Sb find place in Jannat. My condolences to his family and loved ones.”
While condoling the demise of Bhat, Mehbooba said in a post on X,“I am deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Professor Abdul Gani Bhat sb. He was a voice of moderation amidst the tumultuous history of Kashmir an esteemed scholar, teacher, and intellectual with a pragmatic approach to politics.”
She further said that,“A strong advocate for the peaceful resolution of the Kashmir issue, his influence was profound.”
She said,“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.”
Prof Bhat, a former Hurriyat leader, co-founded the Muslim United Front (MUF) in 1986 and later served as chairman of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC). He also led the Muslim Conference, Jammu and Kashmir (MCJK), a banned political organization.
