{"id":3715,"date":"2025-04-16T15:37:33","date_gmt":"2025-04-16T15:37:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/theasiaspeaks.com\/?p=3715"},"modified":"2025-04-16T15:37:34","modified_gmt":"2025-04-16T15:37:34","slug":"dulats-claim-on-farooq-privately-backing-art-370-abrogation-sparks-political-storm","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theasiaspeaks.com\/index.php\/2025\/04\/16\/dulats-claim-on-farooq-privately-backing-art-370-abrogation-sparks-political-storm\/","title":{"rendered":"Dulat\u2019s claim on Farooq privately backing Art 370 abrogation sparks political storm"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Srinagar, Apr 16 (UNI) National Conference (NC) patron and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah had privately endorsed abrogation of Article 370 and even expressed readiness to “help” in the process if taken into “confidence”, former head of Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) A.S. Dulat has reportedly claimed in his latest book, triggering sharp reactions from the political opponents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dulat, who enjoys very close relations with Farooq Abdullah, quotes the NC leader in the book ‘The Chief Minister and the Spy’ as saying, \u201cWe would have helped (pass the proposal). Why were we not taken into confidence?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Article 370, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir, was suddenly revoked by the Modi government on August 4, 2019, surprising everyone. Hours before that, Farooq Abdullah and other top political and other leaders were put under house arrest in the Valley and the detention continued for several months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interestingly, days before the abrogation, Abdullah and his son Omar Abdullah had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The book, according to its excerpts published by The Hindustan Times newspaper, mentions that meeting too. “What transpired…nobody will ever know,” the former spy chief writes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The report and the claim made by Dulat evoked sharp reactions from the NC’s political opponents, who alleged “betrayal” by Farooq Abdullah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Iltija Mufti said it is clear that Farooq Abdullah chose to stay in Kashmir instead of the Parliament to \u201chelp normalise gutting of J&Ks constitution & subsequent betrayal.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Iltija, who is the daughter of PDP supremo and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, posted on X: \u201cDulat sahab an ardent Abdullah supporter has shared how Farooq sahab agreed with Delhi\u2019s illegal move of abrogating Article 370. There were already doubts about what transpired between the Abdullahs & PM days before J&Ks special status was revoked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With this it\u2019s clear that Farooq sahab chose to stay in Kashmir instead of the Parliament to help normalise gutting of J&Ks constitution & subsequent betrayal.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jammu and Kashmir People’s Conference chairman Sajad Lone said he was not surprised by the disclosure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Taking to social media, Lone described Dulat as the \u201cclosest ally\u201d and \u201cvirtually the alter ego\u201d of Farooq Abdullah, thereby lending significant weight to the former spymaster\u2019s assertion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cComing from Dulat sahib makes this revelation very credible,\u201d Lone wrote on X.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He suggested that the National Conference would predictably dismiss the revelation, terming it \u201cyet another conspiracy\u201d and accused the party of consistently playing the \u201cvictim card.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The PC Chief went further to suggest that the National Conference may have been rewarded in the 2024 electoral cycle for its cooperation in 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c\u2026I can visualise Farooq sahib saying \u2014 Humey roney deejiye\u2014 Aap apna kaam karein\u2014 hum aap kay Saath hain\u2014- It now seems 2024 was a prize for services rendered in 2019. Of course in national interest,\u201d he wrote.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PDP legislator Wahed Parra accused the NC of staging outrage and fiery rhetoric while quietly facilitating the disempowerment of Jammu and Kashmir.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is the same NC that watched silently for decades as Article 370 was gradually hollowed out – posing as protectors while doing nothing to actually protect. Their legacy is not one of resistance but of convenient silence dressed up as statesmanship,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis well-rehearsed charade has only one purpose: to normalise the abrogation of 370 and 35A, and the climate of fear and intimidation unleashed post-August 5, 2019 – under the convenient label of a \u2018popular government\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Former NC leader and Ex-Mayor of Srinagar Junaid Mattu also took a dig at the NC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSomething seems to have fallen out of NC\u2019s bag YET AGAIN and it does seem to be a cat. Commiserations to the vulnerable, gullible people of Kashmir!,\u201d Mattu said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Under fire from the Opposition, Abdullah dismissed Dulat\u2019s claim as a \u201ccheap stunt\u201d aimed at boosting book sales. He rejected the assertion that the National Conference would have supported the abrogation of Article 370, terming it a \u201cfigment of imagination.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Abdullah\u2019s daughter Safia Abdullah posted on X: “I have never trusted Dulat as far as I could throw him. He was always a spy whose loyalty was only to himself. He never cared who he threw under the bus with his previous books.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She goes on to add: “I have read this book and he has played a fast and loose with the truth once again.”<\/p>\n

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