EP-213 | Separatism, Article 370, Future of J&K Politics, & Talks with Pakistan Ft. Sajad Gani Lone

Sajad Gani Lone leads the Jammu and Kashmir People's Conference. He has served as an MLA for the Handwara constituency and was a minister in the PDP-BJP government. He is the youngest son of the Kashmiri separatist leader, Abdul Gani Lone.

In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Sajad Lone contested from the Baramulla constituency but lost to independent candidate Engineer Rashid. Now, Sajad's party is contesting the Jammu & Kashmir assembly polls and He is running from Handwara and Kupwara, the only two seats his party won in the 2014 elections.

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Sajad Gani Lone talks about 'Naya Kashmir' and what the upcoming elections mean for the valley after the abrogation of Article 370. He believes the current peace in the valley is 'superficial' and that the 'Azadi' sentiment has just gone underground.

Sajad welcomes ex-Jamaat members running as independents in the J&K elections, which will be held after a decade. He also insists that Yasin Malik did not receive a fair trial. Additionally, he blames the Abdullah family for rigging the 1987 elections, which he says triggered instability and militancy in Jammu and Kashmir.

(00:00) Introduction

(01:01) Elections in J&K

(02:40) Sajad's Twitter Bio

(03:43) Article 370 & 35A

(07:30) Abdul Gani Lone Assassination

(11:05) Kashmiri Pandits' Exodus

(13:31) Pakistan's Support to Hurriyat

(14:35) Pakistani Wife Facing Visa Issues

(19:08) India-Pakistan Talks

(21:15) Ties with PDP & NC

(25:34) Ex-Jamaat Leaders in J&K Polls

(28:11) Independents in J&K Polls

(31:14) Arrest Post Article 370 Abrogation

(33:02) Ties with Yasin Malik

(35:42) Days Before Article 370 Abrogation

(39:02) Peace in Kashmir

(41:32) Federalism in India

(47:33) Public Safety Act

(49:18) On Abdullah Family

(51:18) Kashmiri Pandits

(56:38) Azadi Sentiment in Kashmir

(57:50) Engineer Rashid's LS Win

(59:29) What Should the Centre Do in J&K

(1:02:06) Meeting with Father in Jail

(1:06:28) Being a Kashmiri in Delhi

(1:07:45) Yasin Malik's Trial

(1:12:56) Statehood for J&K