Srinagar: Former RAW chief A S Dulat has triggered a political storm by alleging in his book that National Conference President Dr Farooq Abdullah had “privately supported” the abrogation of Article 370, a claim that has drawn sharp responses across the political spectrum.
The statement, featured in Dulat’s soon-to-be-released book The Chief Minister and The Spy, has sparked widespread criticism, particularly from regional political leaders in Jammu and Kashmir.
Reacting to the claims, People’s Conference Chairman Sajad Gani Lone as per news agency JKNS said he wasn’t surprised by the revelation and hinted that the August 4, 2019 meeting between Dr Farooq Abdullah and the Prime Minister was never a secret to him.
“Dulat sahib’s claim is credible, considering his close ties with Farooq sahib. He is almost like his alter ego,” Lone wrote on X. “National Conference will deny it and cry conspiracy again. That’s their script every time.”
He went on to say that while NC plays the victim card publicly, “their MLAs quietly meet BJP leaders and pretend to be long-lost brothers.” He further added, “I have always believed that the events of 2019 were pre-decided. The reward in 2024 makes sense in that context.”
Lone as per JKNS wrote on X, “Dulat sahib has revealed in his upcoming book that Farooq Sahib privately supported the abrogation of Article 370.
Post reads, “Coming from Dulat sahib makes this revelation very credible. Dulat sahib is the closest ally of and friend of Farooq sahib. Virtually his alter ego. Incidentally, Dulat sahib is the famed Uncle of the infamous Uncles and Aunties Brigade of Delhi. Of course NC will deny it. Call it yet another conspiracy against NC. They have perfected playing the victim card.”
Post further reads, “Uncle and Aunties will take cognisance of my tweet and other such tweets and implore upon BJP to teach such tweeters a lesson. Out here, their MLAs will privately visit LOP Sunil Sharma and tell him that they are brothers separated at the Kumbh Mela. That the theatre they enact in Assembly and outside Assembly is in national interest,” it reads.
“I personally am not surprised at this revelation. The August 4, 2019 meeting of CM sahib and Farooq sahib with the PM was never a mystery for me. I can visualise Farooq sahib saying — Let us cry — You do your work — We are with you — It now seems 2024 was a prize for services rendered in 2019. Of course, in national interest,” reads the post.
Meanwhile, Iltija Mufti, PDP leader and daughter of former CM Mehbooba Mufti, accused Dr Farooq Abdullah of siding with Delhi’s decision to revoke the special status of J&K.
“Dulat sahib, known for his admiration for the Abdullahs, has exposed how Farooq sahib was aligned with the central move to scrap Article 370,” she wrote. “Instead of standing in Parliament to oppose the move, he stayed back in Srinagar and contributed to the narrative of normalcy.”
Iltija as per JKNS wrote on X, “Dulat sahib, an ardent Abdullah supporter, has shared how Farooq sahib agreed with Delhi’s illegal move of abrogating Article 370. There were already doubts about what transpired between the Abdullahs and PM days before J&K’s special status was revoked. With this, it’s clear that Farooq sahib chose to stay in Kashmir instead of the Parliament to help normalise the gutting of J&K’s constitution and subsequent betrayal.”
Meanwhile, BJP Spokesperson Sunil Sethi, while speaking to a news channel as quoted by news agency JKNS, said, “Dulat Sahib is a close aide of Farooq Abdullah Sahib. I don’t know why he has made this statement now, but one thing is certain — every political party in Jammu and Kashmir used to publicly say that Article 370 should remain.”
Sethi said, “However, all parties knew that Article 370 was causing harm to J&K. So I’m not surprised by what Dulat Sahib has said.”
The comments from Lone, Mufti and Sethi come amid a renewed debate on the events leading up to the scrapping of J&K’s special status in August 2019. With Dulat’s remarks adding fuel to the fire, political tensions in the Valley appear set to intensify further. (JKNS)
