Srinagar : 18 sep/ 25
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq expressed profound grief at the passing of senior Hurriyat leader and former Chairman Prof. Abdul Ghani Bhat, paying rich tributes on behalf of the organisation and the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
He said his association of over 35 years with Prof. Bhat was both a privilege and a blessing, as it allowed him to know a gentle intellectual closely and learn from his wisdom. A respected academic, an accomplished scholar, and an upright politician, Prof. Bhat consistently upheld dialogue and peaceful engagement as the only practical way to address the Kashmir issue. At a time when many thought otherwise, he had the courage to speak openly and firmly, even while suffering personal losses. His conviction that dialogue was a strength, not a weakness, gave encouragement and direction to the collective efforts of Hurriyat. He saw peace in the subcontinent not as an illusion but as a necessary and achievable reality.
Mirwaiz said Prof. Bhat’s legacy will endure as that of a scholar-statesman who combined intellect with humility, courage with patience, and conviction with compassion. His absence has created a void that cannot be filled, but his words, vision, and example will continue to inspire and guide.
He added that it is extremely unfortunate that when Prof. Bhat’s final journey came, he, his colleagues, and the thousands who wished to attend his funeral and offer condolences to the bereaved family were denied this basic right. Being locked inside their homes and prevented from paying their last respects was a cruelty that deepened the sorrow of his passing.
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