SRINAGAR: A political controversy has erupted in Jammu and Kashmir following the publication of former Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) chief A.S. Dulat's new book, "The Chief Minister and the Spy," which makes controversial claims about Farooq Abdullah's stance on Article 370.
In his book published by Juggernaut, Dulat alleges that while National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah publicly condemned the 2019 revocation of Kashmir's special status under Article 370 as a "betrayal," he privately struck a different note.
According to Dulat, Abdullah reportedly told him a year later, that the National Conference could even “have the proposal passed in the legislative assembly” in Jammu and Kashmir. "We would have helped. Why were we not taken into confidence?"
Though Dulat does not mention Article 370, inferences are being drawn from the use of phrase ‘proposal in the Jammu and Kashmir's legislative assembly’. Abdullah's statement that his party "could even have the proposal passed in the legislative assembly" and his question about why they weren't consulted is being seen as suggestive of something as contentious as Article 370.
The book further claims that Abdullah and his son Omar met Prime Minister Narendra Modi days before the abrogation, though "what transpired... nobody will ever know." Dulat writes that after Abdullah's subsequent seven-month detention, Delhi "discreetly probed his stance" as "they wanted him to accept the new reality."
Dulat portrays Abdullah as "the most misunderstood Kashmiri politician" who never received his due recognition, while detailing what he describes as three major betrayals by New Delhi against the Kashmiri leader: Indira Gandhi's dismissal of his government in 1984, Atal Bihari Vajpayee's attempt to replace him with his son Omar in 2002 with the unfulfilled "bait" of a vice-presidential nomination, and his arrest in 2019 following the abrogation of Article 370, which Dulat calls "the greatest tragedy of Kashmir."
‘Tallest Leader’
Dulat also makes the assertion that Farooq Abdullah is "the tallest leader in the country," placing him above Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and other prominent national figures. In an interview, when pressed by Karan Thapar if he truly meant Abdullah was taller than Modi and other national leaders, Dulat responded emphatically, "I am sticking my neck out and I'm saying he is taller than everyone else."
Dulat went even further by suggesting that Farooq Abdullah surpasses his father Sheikh Abdullah in leadership stature: "The more I think about it, the more I'm beginning to feel that perhaps... Dr. Sahab is a bigger leader than Sheikh Sahab." This represents a significant departure from the traditional reverence for Sheikh Abdullah, historically considered Kashmir's preeminent political figure.
Throughout the interview, Dulat described Abdullah in superlative terms, stating "he is Kashmir" and "he is the National Conference," arguing that the party might struggle to survive without him: "If Dr. [Abdullah] was not around, I would shudder to think what would happen to the National Conference." He characterized Abdullah as a politician "to every core of his," with a unique ability to connect with Kashmiris that his son Omar lacks, describing the younger Abdullah as "too straight" and "a public school product."
Dulat Clarifies His Position
Facing mounting criticism, Dulat has since attempted to clarify his position, dismissing the controversy as resulting from misinterpretation.
"Whatever is being said about Farooq Abdullah is not true. People should read the whole book; someone has taken a snippet and blown it out of proportion. All this is rubbish," Dulat stated in a recent interview.
He further clarified, "What I said was that Dr. Abdullah had reconciled with the abrogation of Article 370, not that he supported it. I never said Farooq Abdullah supported the abrogation of Article 370. I have been misquoted."
News agency ANI quoted him as saying that the "book is full of praise for the former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and has nothing against him.”
In an interview with Karan Thapar, Dulat specified that "Farooq didn't say he'd help New Delhi with 370 abrogation but said he would have helped if taken into confidence," though he did not elaborate on what this "help" might have entailed.
Despite the controversy, Dulat maintains his admiration for Abdullah, describing him as "a leader who can bridge the gap between Delhi and Kashmir." However, he expressed skepticism about the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir's statehood, saying, "Statehood won't be given. I don't think so, at least not for a long time."
Abdullah's Rebuttal
The 87-year-old National Conference president has responded with anger to Dulat's claims, accusing the former intelligence chief of employing "cheap stunts" to boost book sales.
"The claim in the book that the National Conference was planning to pass a resolution on the abrogation of the special status is merely a figment of the imagination of the author, who claims to be my friend," Abdullah told PTI in an interview.
He pointed out that both he and his son Omar had been detained for months following the abrogation precisely "because our stand against the abrogation of special status was well-known."
Abdullah highlighted what he considered factual errors in the book, noting that "a benchmark of common sense should have been adopted by the author while penning the so-called memoirs. He should have remembered that there was no Assembly in 2018 which could have been dissolved."
The former chief minister also denied Dulat's portrayal of their relationship: "The author claims that Abdullah would always listen to his advice, which is yet another example of underestimating me. I am a man of my own mind, and I only decide. I am not anyone's puppet."
Opposition Criticism
Abdullah's alleged willingness to compromise on Article 370 has drawn criticism from opposition parties, who have accused him of betraying Kashmir's interests. This controversy occurs against the backdrop of Abdullah's formation of the People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) after his release in early 2020, which united political rivals including Mehbooba Mufti of the PDP in demanding restoration of the region's autonomy and statehood.
Abdullah firmly rejected Dulat's claim that the National Conference sought closer ties with the BJP, calling it "an absolute lie as I am not the one who will patch up with a party that is out and out to destroy my party."
Abdullah's parting shot reflects his deep disappointment with the former RAW chief: "The worst is that he claims to be my friend, and as has been said, 'Stab the body and it heals, but injure the heart, and the wound lasts a lifetime.' I guess his inaccuracies for cheap publicity would last a lifetime now."
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