Title: Ex-R&AW chief Dulat claims Farooq privately backed Article 370 abrogation, he denies
The abrogation of Article 370, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir, has been a contentious issue in India for years. The move was widely seen as a step towards integrating the region with the rest of the country, but it was also met with widespread protests and criticism from many quarters. Now, a new book by former R&AW chief AS Dulat has sparked a fresh controversy, with claims that former J&K Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah privately backed the move.
In his book, “The Chief Minister and the Spy”, Dulat claims that Abdullah, who was the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir at the time the abrogation was implemented, suggested that it could have helped the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government pass the bill in Parliament. According to Dulat, Abdullah’s National Conference (NC) party saw the move as a way to strengthen the party’s position in the state.
However, Abdullah has denied these claims, calling them a “figment of imagination” and stating that he and his party had always been opposed to the abrogation of Article 370. In a statement, Abdullah said that he had always been a strong advocate for the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and had never suggested that it be revoked.
The controversy has sparked a fresh debate on the issue, with many questioning the timing and motivation behind Dulat’s claims. Some have accused Dulat of trying to tarnish Abdullah’s reputation and undermine his political credibility, while others have questioned whether the claims are based on fact or simply a product of Dulat’s imagination.
The issue of Article 370 has been a contentious one in India for many years, with many arguing that it was a relic of the country’s colonial past and that its continuation was hindering the development of the region. However, others have argued that the special status granted to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 was necessary to preserve the unique cultural and political identity of the region.
The abrogation of Article 370 was a major decision taken by the Indian government in August 2019, and it sparked widespread protests and violence in the region. Many people in Jammu and Kashmir saw the move as a betrayal of the region’s special status and a threat to their autonomy and identity.
The controversy over Dulat’s claims has raised many questions about the motivations behind the abrogation of Article 370 and the role that various political leaders played in the decision. It has also highlighted the deep divisions that exist in India on the issue of Kashmir and the need for a more nuanced and inclusive approach to resolving the region’s complex political and social issues.
In conclusion, the controversy sparked by Dulat’s claims has raised many questions about the abrogation of Article 370 and the role that various political leaders played in the decision. While the claims are disputed, they have sparked a fresh debate on the issue and highlighted the need for a more nuanced and inclusive approach to resolving the region’s complex political and social issues.
News Source: https://repository.inshorts.com/articles/en/PTI/5880e3bf-0a05-40d6-887a-465b5c760b3a
