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Srinagar, April 16: Former Intelligence Bureau (IB) Director A.S. Dulat has revealed that National Conference (NC) president Dr. Farooq Abdullah had seriously considered forming an alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the period following the abrogation of Article 370, particularly around 2022โ2023.
In a recent interview, Dulat said he was informally approached by the central government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to connect with Abdullah while the NC leader was under house arrest in 2019. โSoon after Article 370 was revoked, someone from the Government of India asked me to reach out to Farooq,โ Dulat said.
He added that Abdullahโs release came with two implicit conditions: he should refrain from publicly criticizing the move to revoke Jammu and Kashmirโs special status and avoid mentioning Pakistan in his statements. โI may not have said it directly, but Farooq was astute enough to understand the implications,โ Dulat noted.
These remarks align with themes discussed in Dulatโs latest book, which delves into Abdullahโs political strategiesโoften characterized by pragmatism and controversy. The National Conference, known for its strong opposition to the 2019 constitutional changes, has not yet commented on Dulatโs assertions.
Abdullah, a veteran political figure in Kashmir, remains at the center of discussions about the regionโs political landscape. The latest revelations add another layer to his complex and often debated political legacy.
