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, which was taken by the Indian government in 2019, has been widely debated and criticized by many. Recently, former R&AW chief AS Dulat has made a surprising claim in his new book “The Chief Minister and the Spy” that former J&K CM Farooq Abdullah privately backed the abrogation of Article 370. However, Abdullah has strongly denied this claim, calling it a “figment of imagination of the author who claims to be my friend”.
According to Dulat’s book, Abdullah’s National Conference (NC) suggested that the abrogation of Article 370 would have helped in passing the Bill. Dulat claimed that he had a conversation with Abdullah in which the latter expressed his views on the matter. Dulat wrote in his book that Abdullah told him that he believed the move would have helped to resolve the Kashmir issue.
However, Abdullah has vehemently denied Dulat’s claim, saying that it is completely false. In a statement, Abdullah said that Dulat’s claim is a “figment of imagination” and that he never had such a conversation with him. Abdullah also questioned Dulat’s credibility, saying that he has no evidence to back up his claim.
The controversy surrounding Dulat’s claim has sparked a heated debate in India, with many questioning the motivations behind Dulat’s statement. Some have suggested that Dulat may be trying to gain attention for his book, while others have defended Dulat’s claim, saying that it is possible that Abdullah may have privately supported the move.
The abrogation of Article 370 was a major move by the Indian government to change the status quo in Jammu and Kashmir. The move was widely criticized by many, including Pakistan, which denounced the move as a violation of international law. The move also sparked widespread protests and violence in the region, with many Kashmiris expressing their opposition to the change.
The controversy surrounding Dulat’s claim has also raised questions about the role of the Indian government in the process of changing the status quo in Jammu and Kashmir. The Indian government has maintained that the move was necessary to bring peace and stability to the region, while many have criticized the move as a violation of the rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
In conclusion, the controversy surrounding Dulat’s claim that Farooq Abdullah privately backed the abrogation of Article 370 is a complex issue that highlights the divisions and tensions that exist in India. While Dulat’s claim has sparked a heated debate, it is clear that the issue of Article 370 is highly contentious and will continue to be a major point of contention in Indian politics for years to come.
Source: https://repository.inshorts.com/articles/en/PTI/5880e3bf-0a05-40d6-887a-465b5c760b3a
