Mohammad Akbar Lone


Mohammad Akbar Lone is an Indian politician. He serves the state of Jammu and Kashmir and belongs to the National Conference political party. He was a cabinet minister in the Omar Abdullah government and had portfolio of higher education.
In 2019, he won the Lok Sabha seat from Baramulla, in a four-cornered contest involving the PDP, BJP, Congress and five other candidates.
After the Union government revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, he teamed up with fellow Lok Sabha MP, Justice Hasnain Masoodi, to file a writ petition in the Supreme Court challenging the constitutionality of the revocation.

Controversy

Lone is known for his outspoken attitude. He reportedly used abusive language against PDP MLA Molvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari when he served as speaker of Kashmir's assembly. Previously he accused PDP president and opposition leader Mehbooba Mufti of indulging in cheap politics. As a speaker Lone had reportedly attacked then Deputy Speaker Sartaj Madni, asking him to resign and become a spokesperson of PDP.
On 27 February 2012, Lone stated that the media is under his control inside the J&K assembly. He said this during a discussion of a story on Health and Floriculture ministry by a local newspaper. The news source was kept secret by the newspaper and the Health and Floriculture minister demanded that it be revealed. When other ministers pointed out that the media cannot be forced to reveal sources, Lone stated that the media is under his control. This led to a two day media boycott of the assembly.
On 10 February 2018, he disrupted the J&K legislative assembly as he started sloganeering in favour of Pakistan, which was followed by a huge uproar in the country. After armed militants from Pakistan attacked residential quarters of the Indian army in J&K, he allegedly commented that he was Muslim first, and Indian after. On 25 March 2019, he again created chaos by making a pro-Pakistan slogan.