Ex-RAW Chief Amarjit Dulat Denies Farooq Abdullah Backed Article 370 Abrogation
NEW DELHI, APRIL 17: Amid controversy surrounding his latest book The Chief Minister and the Spy, former RAW chief Amarjit Singh Dulat on Thursday dismissed claims that National Conference president and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Dr. Farooq Abdullah had supported the abrogation of Article 370.
Dulat, a former IPS officer with extensive experience in Kashmir through his service in both the Intelligence Bureau and Research and Analysis Wing, said the veteran leader was “deeply pained” by the revocation and was never taken into confidence by the Centre.
Speaking to a news agency, Dulat said, “Friendships don’t end just because someone said something frivolous. This book is not about Article 370; it is an appreciation of Farooq Abdullah, the great man.”
He added that he had spoken to Abdullah 10–15 days ago about the launch event and hoped he would attend. “If he doesn’t come, it’s his own decision,” he said.
Recalling the events of August 2019, Dulat said, “Dr. Sahab was heartbroken over what had happened. He has always stood with Delhi, but Delhi has failed to understand him. The fault doesn’t lie with Farooq — it lies with Delhi.”
Dulat firmly denied reports that Abdullah supported the move. “Two days before the abrogation, Farooq Sahab, Omar Abdullah, and one of their MPs met the Prime Minister. I don’t know what was discussed. But later, Farooq Sahab told me, ‘If they wanted to do it, they should have taken us into confidence — instead, they put us under house arrest.’ He never supported it,” he said.
Responding to media reports, Dulat clarified, “Nowhere in the book have I written that Farooq supported the abrogation. That’s complete nonsense — a media stunt. No one supported it, but yes, the manner in which it was done could’ve been different — through dialogue.”
Dulat further said the book should not be viewed as a political critique. “This is not a cheap stunt to sell books. I have no objection if someone says so,” he said.
Praising Dr. Abdullah’s leadership, he remarked, “There’s no leader in Kashmir with even half the stature of Farooq Sahab, and no bigger nationalist. The National Conference came to power with a thumping majority — no one else can take Kashmir forward like this family can.”
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