Sajjad Lone - from being a separatist to a Minister

Sajjad Gani Lone, younger son of People's Conference leader Abdul Gani Lone who was assassinated in 2002 in Srinagar, has crossed yet another threshold with his swearing in as a minister in PDP-BJP Government since he broke ranks with separatists nearly a decade ago in Jammu and Kashmir. That Lone's elevation is expected to have some bearings on separatist politics has become clear with Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed on Sunday saying that he has "given an opening, an avenue for others (separatists) to follow". Born on December 9, 1966, Sajjad is the younger son of Hurriyat leader Abdul Gani Lone who was assassinated on May 21, 2002 by militants in Eidgah ground of downtown Srinagar.