Ex-R&AW chief Dulat claims Farooq privately backed Article 370 abrogation, he denies
In a recent revelation, former R&AW chief AS Dulat has claimed 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 denied the claim, terming it as a “figment of imagination of the author who claims to be my friend”.
According to Dulat, in his book, he claims that Abdullah’s National Conference (NC) suggested that if the Bill was passed, it would have helped in passing the Bill. This claim has sparked a controversy, with many questioning the veracity of Dulat’s statement.
Article 370 of the Indian Constitution granted special autonomous status to Jammu and Kashmir, which was a contentious issue for decades. In August 2019, the Indian government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, decided to revoke the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcate the state into two union territories.
The move was widely criticized by opposition parties, including the NC, and many international leaders. The revocation of Article 370 was seen as a significant political and constitutional change, and its implications are still being debated.
In his book, Dulat claims that he had a meeting with Abdullah, who was the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir at that time, in the summer of 2019. During the meeting, Dulat claims that Abdullah expressed his willingness to support the abrogation of Article 370 if it was in the national interest.
However, Abdullah has denied the claim, saying that it is a “figment of imagination of the author who claims to be my friend”. In a statement, Abdullah said that he never discussed the abrogation of Article 370 with Dulat or anyone else.
“This is a figment of imagination of the author who claims to be my friend. I have never discussed the abrogation of Article 370 with anyone, including AS Dulat. I am surprised that such a claim has been made in a book written by someone who claims to be a friend,” Abdullah said.
The controversy has sparked a debate about the credibility of Dulat’s claims. Many have questioned why Dulat would make such a claim without providing any concrete evidence to back it up. Others have pointed out that Dulat’s statement is at odds with Abdullah’s public statements on the issue.
The NC has also denied the claim, saying that it is a “baseless” and “false” statement. “The statement made by AS Dulat is baseless and false. The NC has always been committed to protecting the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and will continue to do so,” said an NC spokesperson.
The controversy has also raised questions about the role of R&AW in the abrogation of Article 370. Dulat was the head of R&AW at the time the decision was made, and many are wondering if R&AW played a role in convincing the government to take the decision.
In a statement, R&AW said that it did not have any role in the abrogation of Article 370. “R&AW did not have any role in the abrogation of Article 370. The decision was taken by the government, and R&AW was not involved in any way,” said a R&AW spokesperson.
The controversy has also raised questions about the credibility of Dulat’s book. Many are wondering if the book is a work of fiction or non-fiction. Dulat has said that the book is based on his experiences and knowledge, but many are questioning the accuracy of his claims.
In conclusion, the controversy surrounding Dulat’s claim that Farooq Abdullah privately backed the abrogation of Article 370 has sparked a debate about the credibility of the former R&AW chief’s claims. While Dulat claims that Abdullah expressed willingness to support the move, Abdullah has denied the claim, terming it as a “figment of imagination”. The controversy has raised questions about the role of R&AW in the abrogation of Article 370 and the credibility of Dulat’s book.
Source: https://repository.inshorts.com/articles/en/PTI/5880e3bf-0a05-40d6-887a-465b5c760b3a
