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 made by the central government in August 2019, has been widely debated and criticized. Recently, former R&AW chief AS Dulat claimed 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 denied the claim, calling it a “figment of imagination of the author who claims to be my friend”.
According to Dulat, Abdullah’s National Conference (NC) had suggested that the abrogation of Article 370 would have helped in passing the Bill. In his book, Dulat claimed that Abdullah had told him that the NC would support the move if it meant the state would receive more central funding. Dulat also alleged that Abdullah had expressed his concerns about the viability of the state’s economy and had suggested that the abrogation of Article 370 could be a way to address these concerns.
However, Abdullah has strongly denied Dulat’s claims, calling them “false and baseless”. Abdullah stated that he had never discussed the topic with Dulat and that the claims made in the book were “a figment of imagination of the author who claims to be my friend”. He also questioned the credibility of Dulat, saying that he had a history of making false claims.
The controversy surrounding Dulat’s book has sparked a heated debate in India, with many people questioning the veracity of the claims made in the book. Some have accused Dulat of trying to sensationalize the book by making false claims, while others have accused Abdullah of trying to cover up his alleged support for the abrogation of Article 370.
The abrogation of Article 370 was a major move by the central government, and it has had significant implications for the state of Jammu and Kashmir. The move was widely criticized by many, including opposition parties, who argued that it was unconstitutional and would lead to instability in the region.
The controversy surrounding Dulat’s book is not the first time that Abdullah has been at the center of a controversy. In 2019, he was arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in connection with a case related to alleged funding of terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir. Abdullah was later released on bail, but the controversy surrounding his arrest led to widespread protests and criticism from many people.
In conclusion, the controversy surrounding Dulat’s book has sparked a heated debate in India, with many people questioning the veracity of the claims made in the book. While Dulat has claimed that Abdullah privately backed the abrogation of Article 370, Abdullah has strongly denied the claims, calling them “false and baseless”. The controversy highlights the complex and contentious nature of the issue of Article 370 and the ongoing debate about its implications for the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
Source: https://repository.inshorts.com/articles/en/PTI/5880e3bf-0a05-40d6-887a-465b5c760b3a
