Srinagar, Apr 17: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday took a swipe at PDP president Mehbooba Mufti for welcoming A.S. Dulat’s recent book The Chief Minister and the Spy, suggesting that if she endorses its contents, she must also respond to what was written about her father in Dulat’s earlier publication.
Speaking to reporters, as reported by news agency JKNS, Omar said, “If Mehbooba Mufti accepts everything Dulat Sahib has written as the truth, then should we not also believe what he wrote about her father in his first book? If that’s the case, she must explain how she intends to convince people of it.”
The Chief Minister further alleged that Dulat, a former RAW official, includes controversial content in his writings primarily to drive book sales. “It seems to be Dulat Sahib’s trend to stir controversy rather than adhere to facts,” Omar remarked.
“In his first book, he criticized many, and in this one, he has gone all out to demean Farooq Sahib,” Omar added. “There’s a saying—when you have friends like these, you don’t need enemies. It appears Farooq Sahib now realizes who Dulat Sahib truly is.”
On the issue of the Waqf Act, currently under discussion in Parliament, the National Conference leader expressed hope that the final decision would address the concerns raised by the Muslim community. “We expect that the outcome will provide appropriate solutions. There should be no unrest or violence over the Bill,” he said.
Commenting on the recent statement by Pakistan’s Army Chief regarding Kashmir, Omar said such remarks were not unusual. “They’ve been repeating this stance for years. But if one raises concerns about Indian territory under Pakistan’s control, why not speak up about the parts of Ladakh occupied by China as well?”
