Ex-R&AW chief Dulat claims Farooq privately backed Article 370 abrogation, he denies
Former R&AW chief A.S. Dulat has sparked a controversy by claiming in his new book “The Chief Minister and the Spy” that former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah privately backed the abrogation of Article 370. However, Abdullah has categorically denied the claim, terming it as a “figment of imagination” of the author who claims to be his friend.
Dulat, who served as the chief of India’s external intelligence agency Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) from 1999 to 2000, made the claim in his book, which is a memoir of his career. According to reports, Dulat wrote that Abdullah’s National Conference (NC) suggested that the abrogation of Article 370 would have helped in passing the Bill.
Article 370, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir, was abrogated by the Indian government in August 2019. The move was widely criticized by opposition parties and some regional leaders, including Abdullah, who has been a vocal critic of the government’s decision.
Abdullah, who is currently the president of the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference, denied Dulat’s claim, saying that it was baseless and without any truth. “I don’t know why he is saying this. I don’t know what he is trying to achieve,” Abdullah said in a statement.
The former chief minister also questioned Dulat’s credentials as a friend, saying that he had never discussed such sensitive matters with him. “I never had any such conversation with him. He is claiming to be my friend, but I don’t know what kind of friendship he is talking about,” Abdullah said.
Dulat’s claim has raised eyebrows in political circles, with many questioning the timing and motive behind the former R&AW chief’s statement. Some have also pointed out that Dulat’s book is a memoir, and therefore, his account is subject to his personal biases and perceptions.
The controversy has also led to speculation about the motivations behind Dulat’s claim. Some have suggested that he may be trying to curry favor with the government or the BJP, while others have questioned the accuracy of his account.
It is worth noting that Dulat has been a vocal critic of the government’s decision to abrogate Article 370, and has publicly expressed his disapproval of the move. However, his claim in the book has raised questions about his credibility and the reliability of his account.
In any case, the controversy highlights the complex and sensitive nature of the issue of Article 370 and the abrogation of the special status granted to Jammu and Kashmir. The debate is sure to continue, with many stakeholders having strong opinions on the matter.
As the controversy surrounding Dulat’s claim continues to unfold, it is clear that the issue of Article 370 and the abrogation of special status to Jammu and Kashmir will remain a contentious and divisive topic in Indian politics for the foreseeable future.
Source: https://repository.inshorts.com/articles/en/PTI/5880e3bf-0a05-40d6-887a-465b5c760b3a
