A.S. Dulat’s new book alleges National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah was ready to support Delhi’s move to scrap Article 370, triggering sharp reactions from Kashmiri leaders
NEW DELHI — The recent revelations by former Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) chief A.S. Dulat have sparked a political storm in Jammu and Kashmir. In his newly published book, Dulat claims that National Conference (NC) president Dr Farooq Abdullah had “personally supported” the abrogation of Article 370 — a claim that has drawn sharp reactions from regional political parties in the Union Territory.
Reacting to the disclosure, People’s Conference Chairman Sajjad Ghani Lone said he was not surprised by the revelations. Suggesting prior knowledge of a crucial meeting, Lone remarked that Dr Abdullah’s meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 4 August 2019 — just a day before the abrogation — had never been a secret to him.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Lone wrote: “In light of his close relationship with Farooq Sahib, the claim of Dulat Sahib is credible. The National Conference will deny this claim and allege conspiracy in the traditional manner — that is their old script.”
He went further to allege duplicity by the NC, stating: “The National Conference portrays itself as a victim in front of the public, while its MLAs silently meet BJP leaders and give the impression of lost brothers. I have always believed that the events of 2019 were pre-ordained, and the reward in 2024 now seems meaningful.”
Lone added, “Dulat Sahib’s revelations shed light on Farooq Sahib’s closeness to Delhi and the behind-the-scenes issues before the abrogation of Article 370.”
Meanwhile, Iltija Mufti — daughter of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti — also strongly criticised Dr Abdullah. She alleged that he tacitly supported the BJP-led central government’s decision to revoke Jammu and Kashmir’s special status.
Quoting from Dulat’s revelations, Iltija wrote on X: “Dulat Sahib, who is considered close to the Abdullah family, has revealed that Farooq Sahib had tacitly supported the central government’s move to revoke the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. Instead of standing up in Parliament and opposing the move, he remained silent in Srinagar and played his role in normalising the situation.”
She further added: “The meeting between the Prime Minister and Farooq Abdullah a few days before the demolition of the constitutional structure of Jammu and Kashmir was always suspicious. Now these suspicions have become stronger, which is tantamount to betrayal of Jammu and Kashmir.”
Dulat’s book reveals that Farooq Abdullah was willing to “work with Delhi” on the abrogation of Article 370 — provided that he was consulted.
According to Dulat, during a conversation in 2020, Abdullah had expressed regret that the central government did not take him into confidence. “We would have helped, why were we not taken into confidence?” Dulat quotes Abdullah as saying.
The former RAW chief further claims that Dr Abdullah had indicated the National Conference might have passed a resolution in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly supporting the move, had they been properly engaged.
Highlighting a crucial development, Dulat writes that just days before the revocation of Article 370, both Farooq Abdullah and his son Omar Abdullah met Prime Minister Modi. “No one knows what happened during that meeting — Farooq never said anything about it,” he notes.
The revelations have added a new layer of complexity to the political discourse in Jammu and Kashmir, reviving old questions about the role of regional parties during the controversial constitutional change. With Farooq Abdullah and the National Conference yet to formally respond to the claims in the book, political observers are closely watching the fallout.
