Srinagar: Former RAW Chief A.S. Dulat in his new book has claimed that National Conference (NC) President and former Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah “privately backed” the abrogation of Article 370.
According to the book, written by Amar Singh Dulat, a former Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) head, Abdullah publicly called the abrogation “a betrayal” but held a nuanced private view. Dulat writes that Abdullah told him, “We would have helped. Why were we not taken into confidence?”
The book focuses on events leading up to the abrogation of Article 370 on 5 August 2019, when Jammu and Kashmir was also bifurcated into two Union Territories—Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.
A day before the move, Dr Farooq Abdullah, his son Omar Abdullah, and NC MP Hasnain Masoodi met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi. The Abdullahs later claimed they had asked Modi whether the government was planning to abrogate Article 370, but the Prime Minister did not give any clear response.
In an interview, Dulat recalled visiting Abdullah during his detention at his residence on Gupkar Road in Srinagar, after receiving permission from officials in Delhi. He said he had lunch there, prepared by Abdullah’s British wife.
Reacting to the news, MLA Handwara and Peoples Conference Chief Sajad Lone wrote on X: “…Coming from Dullat sahib makes this revelation very credible. Dullat sahib is the closest ally of and friend of Farooq sahib. Virtually his alter ego. Incidentally Dullat sahib is the famed Uncle of the infamous Uncles and Aunties Brigade of Delhi.”
He said that the NC will deny it. “Call it yet another conspiracy against NC. They have perfected playing the victim card. 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.”
Lone said ‘personally’, he was 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 — Humey roney deejiye— Aap apna kaam karein— hum aap kay Saath hain—-It now seems 2024 was a prize for services rendered in 2019. Of course in national interest,” he wrote further.
Farooq ‘privately backed’ Article 370 abrogation: Ex-RAW chief
