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 made a shocking claim 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 vehemently denied these claims, terming them as “a figment of imagination of the author who claims to be my friend”.
Dulat, the former chief of the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), has written in his book that Abdullah’s National Conference (NC) suggested that the abrogation of Article 370 would have helped in passing the Bill. The article states that Dulat claims that Abdullah had expressed his support for the move at a private meeting.
However, Farooq Abdullah has strongly denied these claims, stating that they are baseless and devoid of any truth. In an interview, Abdullah said, “I have never discussed anything with AS Dulat or any other person about the abrogation of Article 370. I don’t know what kind of figment of imagination he has about me.”
Abdullah further added, “AS Dulat claims to be my friend, but I don’t know why he has written such a thing. Maybe he wanted to sell his book or get attention.”
The abrogation of Article 370 was a highly contentious issue, with both the Central Government and the Jammu and Kashmir administration arguing that it was necessary to integrate the state with the rest of the country. The move was met with widespread protests and unrest in the valley, with many viewing it as a betrayal of the special status granted to the state.
The controversy surrounding Dulat’s claim has once again brought to the forefront the complex and often fraught relationship between the Central Government and the Jammu and Kashmir administration. While the Central Government has maintained that the move was necessary to bring peace and stability to the region, many in the Valley have viewed it as a violation of the state’s autonomy.
The denial by Abdullah has also sparked a debate about the credibility of Dulat’s claims. While Dulat has a reputation as a seasoned intelligence officer, his claim has been met with skepticism by many who have questioned the lack of evidence to support his assertion.
The controversy surrounding Dulat’s claim has also led to a wider debate about the role of intelligence agencies in shaping policy and influencing public opinion. While intelligence agencies are often seen as playing a crucial role in gathering information and providing strategic advice, their involvement in shaping policy has often been criticized as opaque and undemocratic.
In conclusion, the controversy surrounding Dulat’s claim that Farooq Abdullah privately backed the abrogation of Article 370 has once again highlighted the complex and often fraught relationship between the Central Government and the Jammu and Kashmir administration. While Dulat’s claim has sparked a debate about the role of intelligence agencies in shaping policy, Abdullah’s denial has raised questions about the credibility of the former R&AW chief’s assertions.
Source: https://repository.inshorts.com/articles/en/PTI/5880e3bf-0a05-40d6-887a-465b5c760b3a
