Says Dr. Abdullah was ready to help Abrogate Article 370 but wasn’t consulted, will apologize if revealing this has upset him
Suhail Khan
Srinagar, April 16 : Responding to the controversy regarding Farooq Abdullah’s alleged role in the abrogation of Article 370, former chief of India’s Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) and Intelligence Bureau (IB), A.S. Dulat, dismissed the claims as baseless speculation.
“The narratives circulating about Farooq Abdullah are false. People must read the entire book instead of cherry-picking fragments to sensationalize. Sab bakwas hai (It’s all nonsense). Read the book before jumping to conclusions,” Dulat asserted.
The controversy arose from reports citing excerpts of Dulat’s memoir, which suggested that after the constitutional changes in August 2019, the Indian government informally tasked him with contacting Abdullah—then under house arrest—to ensure the National Conference (NC) leader would refrain from publicly opposing the move or criticizing Pakistan. Dulat, however, clarified that these claims were misrepresented, calling the insinuations “untrue.”
Emphasizing Abdullah’s significance in Kashmir’s political landscape, Dulat remarked, “Farooq remains a pivotal figure capable of bridging the divide between Delhi and Kashmir.”
Meanwhile, A.S Dulat in another interview with The Wire stated that Farooq Abdullah was willing to help abrogate Article 370 but wasn’t consulted; I will apologize to him if revealing this has upset him.
Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah vehemently denied Dulat’s claims, dismissing them as a “cheap stunt” to boost publicity for the book. The memoir alleges that Abdullah privately supported the revocation of Article 370, which stripped the region of its special status in 2019. Abdullah has consistently opposed the move publicly.
(With Agency Inputs )
