Since the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019, Jammu and Kashmir has experienced a transformative phase of relative peace and stability, a stark contrast to its turbulent past. The revocation of the region’s special status, once a lightning rod for political unrest, has paved the way for economic development, improved governance, and a decline in militancy-related incidents. Yet, as the region strides toward normalcy, a new controversy has emerged with A.S. Dulat’s book, “The Chief Minister and the Spy” (Juggernaut, 2025), which claims that National Conference (NC) patriarch Farooq Abdullah privately supported the abrogation while publicly opposing it. The ensuing uproar, amplified by opposition parties and media debates, appears less a pursuit of truth and more a calculated stunt to boost book sales, exploiting Kashmir’s complex history for sensationalism.
The abrogation of Article 370, a constitutional provision granting Jammu and Kashmir autonomy, was a seismic shift in India’s political landscape. Critics predicted chaos, while supporters argued it would integrate the region more fully into the Indian Union. Five years on, the data speaks for itself: the Union Territory has seen a significant reduction in terror-related incidents, with the Ministry of Home Affairs reporting a 70% drop in such activities between 2019 and 2024. Tourism has surged, with over 2 crore visitors in 2023 alone, injecting vitality into the local economy. Infrastructure projects, from highways to renewable energy initiatives, have gained momentum, signaling a region on the mend. While challenges like unemployment and political alienation persist, the absence of large-scale protests and separatist violence underscores a cautious but tangible stability.
Against this backdrop, Dulat’s book arrives as a curious disruption. The former R&AW chief, known for his deep engagement with Kashmir’s politics, alleges that Farooq Abdullah, a vocal critic of the abrogation, privately endorsed the move in conversations with him. Dulat cites a meeting between Abdullah, his son Omar, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi days before the decision, suggesting Delhi tested Abdullah’s stance during his subsequent detention. These claims have sparked a firestorm, with opposition parties like the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Jammu & Kashmir People’s Conference (PC) seizing the opportunity to paint Abdullah as duplicitous. PDP’s Iltija Mufti and PC’s Sajad Lone have taken to X, framing the revelations as evidence of Abdullah’s complicity, while the NC has dismissed them as “fictional” and a ploy for book sales.
But let’s pause and scrutinize the narrative. Dulat’s claims, while juicy, rest on private conversations without corroborating evidence. Farooq Abdullah’s actions post-detention—leading the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) to demand Article 370’s restoration—directly contradict the notion of private support. The PAGD, formed in 2020, united major parties, including the PDP, in a resolute campaign for reinstating special status and statehood. Abdullah’s public rhetoric, both in Srinagar and Delhi, has consistently decried the abrogation as a “betrayal.” To believe Dulat’s account requires dismissing these documented efforts as mere theater, a stretch that strains credulity.
The timing and framing of the book further raise suspicions. Released in April 2025, it coincides with a period of relative calm in Kashmir, where political discourse has shifted from separatism to governance. Dulat, a seasoned storyteller with prior works like “Kashmir: The Vajpayee Years”, knows the allure of insider gossip in a region long romanticized as a geopolitical chessboard. His portrayal of Abdullah as a conflicted figure navigating Delhi’s machinations is compelling but not novel—his earlier books painted similar pictures without the bombshell of Article 370 complicity. The specificity of this claim, coupled with its lack of substantiation, suggests a deliberate hook to reignite old debates and drive sales. As Farooq Abdullah himself remarked, calling the book a “figment of imagination,” Dulat’s allegations seem tailored to provoke rather than inform.
Opposition parties’ reactions only amplify the spectacle. Iltija Mufti’s X post, accusing Abdullah of helping “normalize” the abrogation, conveniently ignores the PDP’s own role in the PAGD alongside the NC. Sajad Lone’s endorsement of Dulat as Abdullah’s “alter ego” reeks of political opportunism, given the PC’s rivalry with the NC. These responses, while framed as outrage, serve to keep the controversy alive, drawing attention to the book and its author. Meanwhile, allies like the Congress, part of the NC-led government, have stayed conspicuously silent, suggesting an awareness that engaging with Dulat’s claims risks destabilizing a fragile coalition.
The media, too, has played its part in inflating the controversy. Outlets have given Dulat a platform, with interviews like Barkha Dutt’s framing the book as a “complex tale of realpolitik.” While journalistic curiosity is warranted, the uncritical amplification of unverified claims—without pressing Dulat for evidence—borders on complicity in his apparent quest for relevance. Kashmir’s story, already burdened by decades of mistrust, deserves better than being reduced to a vehicle for book promotion.
What’s lost in this noise is the bigger picture: Jammu and Kashmir’s progress since 2019. The region’s youth, once caught in the crossfire of militancy, are increasingly turning to education and entrepreneurship. The government’s focus on grassroots democracy, evidenced by successful panchayat elections and Assemblyelections, has empowered local voices. While the restoration of statehood remains a contentious issue, the central administration’s investments in infrastructure and security have laid a foundation for long-term stability. Dulat’s book, by dragging the region back to the divisive debates of 2019, undermines these gains, stirring mistrust at a time when unity is paramount.
Kashmiris, no strangers to manipulation, are unlikely to be swayed by Dulat’s revelations. On X, users like @Ahmadayaz08 have downplayed the book, noting Abdullah’s reputation for inconsistency as old news. Others, like @tasaduq_yaseen, may see it as exposing duplicity, but the broader sentiment reflects fatigue with recycled narratives. The region’s people, having endured decades of conflict, are more concerned with jobs, education, and peace than with settling scores over a decision made six years ago.
In the end, Dulat’s book is less a revelation than a reminder of Kashmir’s enduring complexity. Its claims, lacking evidence, serve as a distraction from the region’s forward march. Farooq Abdullah, flaws and all, remains a towering figure whose legacy transcends the gossip of a former spy. The real story in Jammu and Kashmir today is not one of betrayal or intrigue but of a region cautiously rebuilding itself. Let’s not let a sales-driven stunt overshadow that truth.
