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 ever since the government decided to repeal it in August 2019. The move was met with widespread protests and criticism from various quarters, with many arguing that it was a violation of the state’s autonomy and the rights of its people.
In his latest book, ‘The Chief Minister and the Spy’, former R&AW chief AS Dulat has made some explosive claims about the events leading up to the abrogation of Article 370. According to Dulat, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah privately backed the move, suggesting that it would help in passing the bill.
However, Abdullah has strongly denied these claims, calling them a “figment of imagination” and saying that he is shocked that his friend and former colleague would make such allegations. Dulat’s claims have sent shockwaves across the political spectrum, with many demanding clarification on the issue.
In an excerpt from his book published in the Indian Express, Dulat writes that Abdullah had told him that the National Conference (NC) would support the abrogation of Article 370 if the government was willing to hold elections in the state. Dulat claims that Abdullah made this suggestion during a conversation they had in 2019, just before the BJP-led government decided to repeal the Article.
According to Dulat, Abdullah told him that the NC would support the move because it would help in holding elections in the state, which had been pending for years. Dulat claims that Abdullah said that the party would also gain politically from the move, as it would help them to regain power in the state.
However, Abdullah has categorically denied these claims, saying that they are baseless and without any truth. In a statement, Abdullah said that he was shocked that Dulat, who he considered a friend, would make such allegations. He claimed that Dulat was trying to create controversy and distract the public from the real issues facing the country.
Abdullah also questioned Dulat’s credibility, saying that he had no authority to make such claims. He claimed that Dulat had no knowledge of the inner workings of the NC or the state government, and that his claims were simply the product of his imagination.
The controversy surrounding Dulat’s claims has sparked a heated debate in the political circles, with many politicians and experts weighing in on the issue. While some have defended Dulat’s claims, saying that they may be true, others have criticized him for making such allegations without any concrete evidence.
The controversy has also raised questions about the credibility of Dulat, who was a highly respected and experienced intelligence officer during his tenure as R&AW chief. Dulat’s claims have been met with skepticism by many, who argue that he has a history of making sensational claims to grab attention.
The abrogation of Article 370 was a highly controversial move, with many arguing that it was a violation of the state’s autonomy and the rights of its people. The move was also seen as a major blow to the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, which had been granted to the state under the Article.
In the years leading up to the abrogation of Article 370, there were several attempts by the government to repeal it. However, these attempts were met with strong resistance from the people of Jammu and Kashmir, who were determined to preserve their special status.
The government’s decision to abrogate Article 370 was seen as a major victory for the BJP, which had campaigned on a plank of repealing the Article during the 2019 general elections. The move was also seen as a major blow to the opposition parties, which had been critical of the government’s handling of the issue.
In conclusion, the controversy surrounding Dulat’s claims about Farooq Abdullah’s alleged support for the abrogation of Article 370 highlights the complex and sensitive nature of the issue. While Dulat’s claims have sparked a heated debate, it is clear that the truth about the events leading up to the abrogation of Article 370 will remain a subject of speculation and disagreement.
Sources:
https://repository.inshorts.com/articles/en/PTI/5880e3bf-0a05-40d6-887a-465b5c760b3a
