AMN /
Hurriyat Conference leader Prof Abdul Gani Bhat has said that, the renewed Indo-Pak dialogue process is a “tribute” to former J&K Chief Minister Muhammad Sayeed who had a “vision” to bring the two countries closer.
Bhatt, who is also the Chairman of Muslim Conference, on Saturday visited the Gupkar residence of late Sayeed to express his condolences with his family.
Bhat is the only separatist who visited Sayeed’s residence to express his condolences. On Thursday both the chairmen of Hurriyat factions Syed Ali Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq expressed sympathies with the bereaved family.
Bhatt is a leader of Hurriyat Conference led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq.
Referring to his visit, Prof Bhat said: “Humanity doesn’t stop any person from paying and visiting bereaved families to offer condolences and pray for their peace.”
Addressing the condolence meeting, the separatist leader credited the former Chief Minister for the renewed bonhomie between India and Pakistan.
“He (Sayeed) worked tirelessly to promote friendly relations between India and Pakistan. The two countries are now coming closer. This is a tribute to Mufti Sahab,” said the senior separatist leader. “This is the seed he sowed not only in the minds of people of Jammu and Kashmir but even in India and Pakistan.”
Describing Sayeed as a “good friend”, Prof Bhat enumerated the “great quality” of the former Chief Minister of “taking everybody along”.
“He wanted to take everybody, Muslims and non-Muslims, along. It is a big thing to do, a big quality. It happens only when you are a visionary and all inclusive,” said Prof Bhat.
The separatist leader hogged the headlines last year following his meeting with Sayeed at his residence here ahead of the government formation in Jammu and Kashmir. Bhat had justified the meeting, saying he and the former Chief Minister were childhood friends.
“We lived as good friends despite our political and ideological differences,” Prof Bhat said, recalling his student days at the Aligarh Muslim University—where he was a student of Persian—and his friendship with Sayeed, who studied Arabic there.
In his emotional speech, Bhat, the former Chairman of Hurriyat Conference (M), said Sayeed “had his hand on the pulse of the situation” and “knew the direction in which the situation was moving”.
“The direction is now visible. Today, the hands are being shaken,” Bhat said, referring to the ongoing dialogue process between Indian and Pakistan. He hoped the process would move on.
“God willing, the hearts will also meet and if it happens then nothing can shake us.”