India, May 10 -- Reckoned as a key player in the Kashmir politics, Sajjad Lone has come a long way since he eschewed the separatist ideology after the assassination of his father Abdul Ghani Lone, a leading light of pro-secession Hurriyat Conference, in 2002. As the chairman of People's Conference, Lone, 58, is the prime challenger to National Conference leader and former chief minister Omar Abdullah on the Baramulla Lok Sabha seat that goes to the polls on May 20. He spoke to Executive Editor Ramesh Vinayak in Srinagar. Edited excepts:...