NDTV Explains: Ex-Spy Chief’s Explosive Declare, Abdullahs’ ‘Frenemy’ Query

Explosive claims in a memoir by former Analysis and Evaluation Wing (RAW) chief AS Dulat, titled ‘The Chief Minister and the Spy’, has set off a fierce disagreement among the many political elite of Jammu and Kashmir. On the centre of this tempest are Nationwide Convention president Farooq Abdullah, his son Omar Abdullah, and Individuals’s Democratic Occasion chief Mehbooba Mufti.

Mr Dulat’s ebook claims that Farooq Abdullah “privately supported” the abrogation of Article 370, the constitutional provision that granted the area particular standing till it was repealed by the Centre on August 5, 2019.

The declare drew a right away and visceral response from Farooq Abdullah, who dismissed the assertion as a “low-cost stunt” supposed solely to spice up ebook gross sales. Mr Abdullah, 87, described Mr Dulat’s account as “a figment of creativeness” and claimed that it was so riddled with inaccuracies that he deserted studying it partway by means of.

Mr Abdullah mentioned that each he and his son Omar had been detained within the days surrounding the constitutional change in 2019 – a truth he believes contradicts any suggestion of personal consent.

The paragraph in query from Mr Dulat’s memoir reads: “Farooq was terribly damage. Simply because the BJP has by no means hidden its intention in the direction of Kashmir and so far as Article 370 was involved, so too had Farooq been extraordinarily open about his willingness to work with Delhi. Possibly, he mentioned, the Nationwide Convention may even have the proposal handed within the meeting. We might have helped, he advised me once I met him in 2020. Why had been we not taken into confidence?”

Mr Abdullah criticised Mr Dulat’s suggestion that his social gathering may have helped go a decision supporting the abrogation within the Meeting. “A benchmark of widespread sense ought to have been adopted by the writer whereas penning the so-called memoir. He ought to have remembered that there was no meeting in 2018 because it had been dissolved,” he mentioned.

Mehbooba Mufti’s Counter-Offensive

The ebook additionally rekindled political tensions with the PDP, led by Mehbooba Mufti. Addressing a celebration conference in Srinagar, Ms Mufti mentioned she was not stunned by Mr Dulat’s claims.

“I’m not stunned after studying that because it has been the Nationwide Convention’s stance that they’ll do something for energy. It has been occurring since 1947 – at instances, they wished to come back with India on condition that they had been in energy; if not, they wished to have a dialogue. He (Sheikh Abdullah, Farooq Abdullah’s father) was in jail for 22 years together with the individuals, however once they got here to energy, the dialogue ended. How rigging was accomplished in 1987 for the Chair, and that resulted in weapons coming to the valley, and it took lakhs of our younger lives,” Ms Mufti mentioned.

The PDP chief then turned the highlight onto Omar Abdullah, claiming he had approached Union Residence Minister Amit Shah in 2014 for presidency formation, allegedly providing unconditional assist from the NC.

“When PDP and BJP had been in talks, Omar Abdullah went to Delhi many instances and provided them unconditional assist,” she claimed.

Omar Abdullah Strikes Again

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, incensed by Mr Mufti’s remarks, responded sharply. “If Mehbooba Mufti believes all the things that Mr Dulat writes is true, then ought to we additionally take into account what he wrote about her father in his first ebook as true?” he requested reporters.

Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, Ms Mufti’s father, was additionally a former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir and had his political choices scrutinised in Mr Dulat’s earlier memoir. Omar Abdullah accused Mr Dulat of a sample of exaggeration to generate publicity for his books. “With pals like this, who wants enemies?” he requested.

He additionally claimed that Farooq Abdullah had lastly seen by means of Dulat’s motivations.

“In his first ebook too he had spared nobody. On this ebook as properly, he has left no stone unturned in belittling Farooq sahib. Properly, at the very least now, Farooq sahib has lastly understood Dulat’s true nature. He ought to not stay below the phantasm that when the ebook is launched, Farooq sahib will stand by him,” he mentioned.

Claims of Affect

Mr Dulat’s affect over Farooq Abdullah, at the very least as per the previous spy’s account, included recommendation on Cupboard formation in 1996 and encouragement to return to electoral politics. Mr Abdullah countered these claims by crediting former US Ambassador Frank Wisner for urging him to re-enter politics.

“Dulat’s declare that the Nationwide Convention wished to get near the BJP is an absolute lie. I’m not the one who will patch up with a celebration that’s out and out to destroy my social gathering,” Mr Abdullah mentioned, as quoted by information company PTI.

He denied options that he adopted Mr Dulat’s recommendation routinely. “I’m a person of my very own thoughts. I solely determine. I’m not anybody’s puppet,” he mentioned.

Ex-Spy’s Account

In an interview with NDTV, Mr Dulat tried to melt the blow. He described his ebook as largely beneficial towards Mr Abdullah, arguing that his phrases have been taken out of context.

“This ebook will not be a critique of Farooq Abdullah. This ebook is an appreciation of Farooq Abdullah,” the previous RAW chief advised NDTV.

“Most of what I’ve written is laudatory of Farooq. I do not know why individuals have picked up one paragraph and misinterpreted it,” he mentioned. “What must be understood right here is that Farooq has all the time labored with Delhi, he has all the time been with India, he’s the last word nationalist in Kashmir and if individuals don’t perceive that, it’s unhappy.”

Excerpts From The E-book

On Article 370

Farooq was terribly damage. Simply because the BJP had by no means hidden its intentions in the direction of Kashmir so far as Article 370 was involved, so, too, had Farooq been extraordinarily open about his willingness to work with Delhi. Possibly, he mentioned, the NC may even have had the proposal handed within the legislative meeting in Jammu and Kashmir. ‘We might have helped,’ he advised me once I met him in 2020. ‘Why had been we not taken into confidence?’

Properly, since April 2019, Farooq had warned of an impending political disaster in Kashmir. ‘If it [India] doesn’t pay heed to the needs of the individuals, the results are grave,’ he mentioned. ‘We are going to battle for the rights of individuals …’

When he spoke to me concerning the abrogation later, he was forthright, ‘Kar lo agar karna hai,’ he mentioned, considerably bitterly. ‘Par yeh arrest kyu karna tha?’ (Do it for those who should, however why arrest us?)

‘Principal aaya hun toh samajh lo ki Dilli baat karna chahti hai,’ I advised him. (Now that I’ve come, it’s possible you’ll take it that Delhi desires to speak to you.) ‘Haan,’ he mentioned. ‘Principal samajh gaya.’ (Sure, I perceive that.)

On Farooq Abdullah:

Discovered him reflective and introspective – that earlier fringe of imperious urgency had gone. It was not essentially the most exhilarating two hours I had spent with him, however ultimately, my time was up and I needed to go. Usually, Physician sahib doesn’t allow anybody the posh of spending two hours with him, however like I mentioned, loneliness does unusual issues to an individual.

On Rahul Gandhi

Farooq, who walked with Rahul in the course of the yatra, was impressed. Right here, he felt, was a younger chief able to taking the nation ahead in the very best sense of the phrase. He telephoned me shortly after. I keep in mind it was round 5 o’clock within the night, and I used to be sitting and having my night tea. He sounded energised, ‘You already know, I walked with this boy at present. When the stroll ended and he hugged me, I’ve not felt so emotional in a very long time.’ It is a uncommon human being who could make Farooq Abdullah emotional.

On Abdullah Household

In 2020, Farooq had quietly advised me, ‘Our household has all the time been with India. We are going to stay with India. That is how I introduced up my very own kids. That is what I taught them. However now, at present, my grandchildren ask me – is that this the India you need us to be with?’ Actually, considered one of his kids additionally mentioned that she not felt Indian however solely Kashmiri.

Because the years have handed, father and son have shared a unbelievable relationship on the floor. However their politics has been fairly completely different, of their technique and course of, if not of their ideology. Farooq has all the time been the quintessential Kashmiri politician, seen all over the place on a regular basis. He has what the Kashmiris known as lachak – the pliability and attraction that’s vital to conducting politics. He’s 100 per cent Indian and greater than 100 per cent Kashmiri.

Omar, then again, presents an image of contrasts: 100 per cent Indian, however solely 50 per cent Kashmiri, and 50 per cent nonetheless the pinnacle boy of Sanawar. Other than his youth and freshness, he is straighter, far more open than anybody else in Kashmir. As well as, he is appropriate and sincere, a trait that has not all the time gone down properly in his state.

Omar appeared to have forgotten that if it hadn’t been for his father, he wouldn’t have change into chief minister. Finally, his repeated reference to Sheikh Sahib whereas ignoring his personal father didn’t go down properly in Kashmir. Rubbishing Farooq was counterproductive.