Farooq Abdullah backed Article 370 abrogation, claims Former RAW Chief A.S. Dulat
Srinagar: In a political bombshell, former RAW chief A.S. Dulat has alleged that National Conference (NC) president and former J&K Chief Minister Dr. Farooq Abdullah privately supported the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019. The claim, made in Dulat's new book “The Chief Minister and The Spy – An Unlikely Friendship”, has sparked a political storm and could potentially impact the Abdullah family's long-standing legacy in Kashmir.
Dulat stated that he was informally asked by the Modi-led central government to reach out to Abdullah, who was under house arrest at the time. According to him, Abdullah’s release came with two unspoken conditions: refraining from criticizing the abrogation and avoiding any reference to Pakistan. “Farooq was wise enough to grasp the message,” Dulat alleged.
He further claimed that Abdullah had shown willingness to cooperate with the Centre and allegedly remarked that the NC could have passed the proposal in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly—had they been consulted.
The Abdullah family, which has dominated Kashmiri politics since Sheikh Abdullah’s era, has publicly opposed the 2019 constitutional move. The new allegations stand in stark contrast to the party’s stated stance and its later efforts to restore the special status through the Gupkar Alliance.
Sajad Gani Lone, president of the Peoples Conference, said he was not surprised, calling Dulat Abdullah’s “alter ego.” He alleged that the NC’s public opposition masked private cooperation with Delhi. “The 2019 meeting between Farooq and the PM was no mystery,” he wrote on X, suggesting the party’s electoral success in 2024 was a reward for earlier cooperation.
PDP leader Iltija Mufti accused Abdullah of helping to “normalise the gutting of J&K’s constitution,” alleging he chose to stay politically relevant in Kashmir rather than resist in Parliament.
National Conference spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq categorically denied the claims, dismissing the book as a “figment of imagination.” He highlighted contradictions in Dulat’s account, noting that Farooq formed the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) after his release to challenge the abrogation.
Sadiq also recalled that Dulat’s earlier book had made controversial claims about other leaders. “This is just another attempt to stay relevant,” he said.
While the National Conference has yet to release an official statement, Dulat’s claims have added a new layer of controversy to Kashmir’s political discourse, raising fresh questions about the behind-the-scenes developments surrounding the revocation of Article 370.
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CM Siddaramaiah alleges ‘criminal conspiracy’ in Sringeri recount, vows legal action
Bengaluru (PTI): Alleging a “criminal conspiracy” by BJP candidate D N Jeevaraj in the Sringeri Assembly poll recounting, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said the outcome was manipulated after valid postal ballot votes in favour of Congress leader T D Raje Gowda were tampered with during the recounting process.
Following a Karnataka High Court order on an election petition filed by Jeevaraj, challenging Raje Gowda’s election, the reverification and recounting were conducted on Saturday.
After the reverification and recount of postal ballots for the Sringeri Assembly constituency, votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda were reduced by 255, the returning officer said.
A report on the matter has been submitted to the Election Commission of India for further action, the officer added.
Congress leader Raje Gowda had won the 2023 Assembly polls from Sringeri by 201 votes, defeating his nearest rival Jeevaraj.
Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah said the High Court had directed the recounting of postal ballots and that irregularities were noticed during the exercise conducted on May 2.
“This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” Siddaramaiah said, alleging that valid votes cast in favour of Raje Gowda were altered after being accepted by counting agents of all parties, including Congress, BJP, and JD(S).
He claimed that during the recounting of postal ballots, 255 votes were initially accepted as valid by all agents but were later tampered with by subordinate officials.
“There is a second mark on the votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda. They had accepted these as valid votes. Subsequently, another mark was made by officials. This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” he said.
When asked who was behind the alleged conspiracy, the CM replied, “It was hatched by Jeevaraj and others. It is planned.”
Siddaramaiah further alleged that the returning officer acted improperly by declaring the result despite the presence of an Election Commission observer during the recounting.
“Immediately after the counting, the returning officer announced the result. He should not have done so; this is against the law,” he said.
He pointed out that Raje Gowda had originally won by 201 votes, but after the recounting, the BJP candidate was declared the winner by 52 votes.
“The BJP has committed a criminal act of conspiracy. This is not vote chori but vote dacoity,” he alleged.
The CM said a police complaint had already been filed by Raje Gowda’s election agent, Sudhir Kumar, and emphasised the need for electoral integrity.
“We want transparency and free and fair elections. That is what our Constitution mandates,” he added.
Stating that the government would pursue legal remedies, Siddaramaiah said, “We are preparing an appeal challenging the returning officer’s announcement in a court of law.”
Responding to a separate query on elections in other states, the CM said there appeared to be an anti-incumbency factor in West Bengal, while results in Tamil Nadu were “surprising,” adding that Vijay’s party was emerging as the largest there.
Following the victory of party candidates in Bagalkote and Davanagere South, Siddaramaiah expressed confidence about future electoral prospects in Karnataka.
“Even in 2028, we will win the Assembly elections. We will come back,” the CM said.
Siddaramaiah added that he would order a forensic examination into the alleged tampering of postal ballots.
