Srinagar, Apr 16 (KNO): Terming the ‘book bomb shell’ “The Chief Minister and the Spy” written by former RAW Chief A S Dulat as bundle of lies, National Conference President Dr Farooq Abdullah on Wednesday said that his claims are figment of his imagination.
Dr Farooq, according to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said that his book is a “piece of fiction” which he is trying to project as the work based on facts.
Dulat, in his book, has alleged that Dr Farooq privately backed the abrogation of Article 370 while publicly opposed it. “Me and my son Omar Abdullah were put under arrest for several months at the time of the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019. We were detained because our stand against the abrogation of special status was well-known," he said. “Dulat’s book is nothing other than rubbish.”
Meanwhile, NC Chief Spokesperson and MLA Zadibal, Tanvir Sadiq also rejected the claims made by Dulat.
Sadiq while speaking to KNO said the book contradicts itself and questioned the credibility of the author. “If you look at the book and what he writes in it, he contradicts his own words. He writes that the Government of India waited for seven months to see Farooq Abdullah Sahib’s reaction when he was in custody. If that was the case, then why did he promote the PAGD after coming out?” he asked.
He added that the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) was rejuvenated after Abdullah’s release and that it was not broken by the NC.
Sadiq also questioned Dulat’s comments about the PDP and its leadership. “The words he used about the PDP patriot are probably inappropriate. I don't trust those things,” he said.
He added that Dulat had earlier made remarks against PDP founder Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, which he termed as a bid to stay relevant.
“If the PDP and opposition talks about it, then I believe the same author has time and again said something about Mufti Muhammad Sayeed, he has said that PDP was the creation of PDP and many other personal talks. If that is true then it is true.”
“I think it is just a figment of imagination and he (Dullat) is trying to sell his book and what better than to create a controversy with regard to J&K. I think there is nothing much to it than this and I believe if the opposition is taking it head-on then I think they should also look at their own house because Dullat Sahab has said many things about the opposition as well. I feel there is nothing to it and we have cleared it very clearly.”
He said that the opposition had no issue to raise now and was trying to divert attention. “They can't say anything on the budget or other matters. So they are making up stories,” he said. “We have bigger issues to deal with like the amendment bill and the reservation issue.”
About the reasons behind splitting of PAGD, the NC spokesperson said, “I think you should ask the people who left PAGD. We were the ones who were asking for what was left from us. I think what happened in August 2019 was betrayal for Jammu & Kashmir. We feel that was wrong and even till date we believe that was wrong. We were the ones who went to the Supreme Court and fought the abrogation of Article 370. So, we were the ones, who wanted to be with Jammu & Kashmir and the people and we stand with them.”
Dulat defends claims, says book based on facts
When news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) contacted former RAW chief A.S. Dulat he said that he never spoke against Dr Farooq Abdullah but his claims in the book “The Chief Minister and the Spy An Unlikely Friendship” is based on the fact.
Quoting the foreword of the book written by former National Security Advisor M.K. Narayanan, Dulat said the account in the book is "closest to the truth and reality than most other portrayals."
"You can ask Farooq Sahib, I have never said anything against him in my life. However, people must read the foreword of the book also written by former National Security Advisor M.K. Narayanan," he said, adding, "Narayanan Ji will never lie; what he has written in the foreword is based on facts."
The foreword, however indicates that MK Narayanan believes Dulat's account in the book is the most accurate and truthful portrayal.
In the book, Dulat writes that Farooq Abdullah expressed a willingness to work with Delhi regarding Article 370. “We would have helped,” Abdullah told Dulat in 2020, referring to the proposal to revoke Jammu and Kashmir’s special status.
According to Dulat, Farooq Abdullah said, “Why were we not taken into confidence?”
Dulat recounts that Abdullah believed the National Conference could have supported the move in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly if it had been informed and consulted.
The book suggests that Abdullah's concern was not with the move itself but with the manner in which it was executed and the subsequent detention of political leaders, including himself.
Farooq Abdullah was placed under house arrest after the abrogation in August 2019 and remained in detention for nearly seven months.
According to Dulat, during a conversation following his release, Abdullah questioned the rationale behind the detention.
Dulat quotes him as saying, “‘Kar lo agar karna hai. Par yeh arrest kyu karna tha?’ (Do it if you must, but why arrest us?)”
Dulat writes that prior to the revocation of Article 370, Farooq Abdullah and his son Omar Abdullah had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi.
He notes that what transpired during that meeting is not publicly known, and Farooq has not spoken about it.
The book also examines the contrast between Farooq Abdullah and his son Omar.
Dulat writes that Farooq sought a balanced relationship with Delhi, insisting on doing things his own way, while Omar was more inclined to align with Delhi’s expectations.
Dulat recalls a 2014 phone call from the Intelligence Bureau asking for Farooq’s London number, which he interpreted as a reflection of the central government’s inconsistent approach to engaging with the NC leader. “Try as Delhi might to dismiss him, it can never ignore Farooq,” he writes.
Dulat also said that Farooq Abdullah tried to shape his own political path, different from that of his father Sheikh Abdullah, but notes that it was not easy to move away from such a legacy—(KNO)