A S Dulat’s book controversy: Dulat’s remarks against Dr Farooq detached from reality: NC

Srinagar, Apr 17: National Conference (NC) on Thursday criticised the remarks made by former RAW chief A S Dulat against the party chief Dr Farooq Abdullah in his book “The Chief Minister and the Spy” as “completely detached from reality” and a “blatant attempt” to generate publicity for the book.
In a joint statement issued here, the senior leaders of the party, including party General Secretary Ali Muhammad Sagar, Additional General Secretary Ajay Kumar Sadhotra, Advisor to HCM Nasir Aslam Wani, Treasurer Shammi Oberoi, Chief Spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq, Provincial Presidents Showkat Mir, Rattan Lal Gupta, party MPs, district presidents and block presidents “vehemently” denounced the remarks made by Dulat as a “desperate attempt to gain cheap publicity for the book”.
They said Dr Farooq Abdullah is a symbol of “democratic resistance” against the “unilateral decisions” made by the Centre on August 5, 2019. “Dr Abdullah was the driving force behind the formation of the PAGD in response to these decisions,” they added.
The leaders pointed out that Dulat’s accusations are baseless, especially considering his previous allegations against Mufti Sayeed, which were denied by the PDP. “How can PDP trust his current claims when his past statements have been refuted by them? It is clear that Dulat’s motives are questionable,” they asked.
The leaders said, “Dr Farooq Abdullah has a history of standing up for Kashmir’s autonomy, even in the face of adversity. His government was dismissed in 1984, and he has been unjustly jailed and placed under house arrest multiple times since 2019. The NC had warned the PDP against forming an alliance with the BJP, foreseeing the negative impact it would have on the region’s autonomy. People of Kashmir are well aware of who truly stands up for their rights.”
They added, “Dulat’s attempts to “smear” Dr Abdullah’s reputation have been debunked, leaving no room for the PDP and other parties to spread false narratives. Even the author had retracted from what is being peddled on social media platforms.”