Farooq Abdullah strikes as Dulat's upliftment of Article 370 as 'cheap stunt'; Ex-R & AW Chief Defend Memoir | Today news

Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah rejected the demands of former R&A chief Amarjit Singh Dulat that he had “privately supported” the upliftment of Article 370, which they described as a ‘cheap stunt’ to increase the sales of Dulat’s upcoming memoir, the spy on April 18. In response, the Ex R&W chief claimed to be “wrong”. “My book is full of praise for Farooq Abdullah, there is nothing against him,” Dulat said. Dulat’s allegations and Abdullah’s answer Dulat’s book claims that Abdullah and his National Conference (NC) may have supported the removal of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status if consulted, and that the party would help to accept a resolution in the meeting if they were trusted. Abdullah, now 87, rejected these statements as’ fiction ‘and’ an image of the author’s imagination, and insisted that he and his son Omar Abdullah were detained for months at the time of the upliftment in August 2019, precisely because their opposition to the move was well known. No meeting, no resolution, Farooq Abdullah struggled for the proposal that the NC could facilitate the acceptance of a resolution to recall Article 370. He pointed out that there was no legislative meeting in 2018, as it was already dissolved. “A benchmark of common sense must have been adopted by the author while getting the so -called memoirs,” the ex J&K cm said. “He had to remember that there was no meeting in 2018, which could be resolved,” Abdullah noted. The prospective special status for Kashmir Farooq Abdullah repeated his consistent stance in defense of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status. He emphasized his role in the composition of major political powers in the region to form the People’s Alliance for Gupkar statement (PAGD), a coalition committed to restoring the state’s autonomy. Abdullah emphasized that his record, including the adoption of a resolution for greater autonomy when he held a majority of two -thirds in 1996, is in conflict with the demands of Dulat. About the relationship with Dulat and the BJP Abdullah also refuted the portrayal of Dulat of their relationship and rejected the idea that he was easily influenced by the former spy chief. “The author claims that Abdullah would always listen to his advice, which is another example to underestimate me. I am a man of my own thoughts, and I just decide. I’m not someone’s puppet, ‘he argued. He further rejected the proposals that the NC was looking for narrower ties with the BJP, called it “an absolute lie” and confirmed his reluctance to associate with a party that he accused of “destroying” his own will. By disputing the accuracy of the memoir, Farooq Abdullah described Dulat’s memoir as inaccuracies, and compared it to ‘fiction’ and said he abandoned it. He also disputed specific claims, such as Dulat’s alleged advice on the cabinet size in 1996, which point out factual errors in the account. Abdullah said that Dulat’s actions left a lasting wound: “The worst thing is that he claims to be my friend, and as it is said,” Sticking the body and healing it, but injuring the heart, and the wound lasts a lifetime. I think his inaccuracies only for cheap publicity would now last a lifetime. ” My book is full of praise ‘amid a political storm in Jammu and Kashmir about some mention of Farooq Abdullah in his new book’ The Chief Minister and the Spy ‘, former Raw chief Amarjit Singh Dulat said the’ book is full of praise ‘for the former Jammu and Kashmir minister and’ nothing against him ‘. Dulat, a former IPS officer, who served the Intelligence Bureau and RAW and had a long experience to work in and to Kashmir, said the book is an appreciation and not a criticism of the former chief minister. First published: 16 Apr 2025, 22:58 IST