Srinagar: Former Chief Minister and National Conference (NC) leader Omar Abdullah responded sharply to People’s Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti’s comments on AS Dulat’s latest book. Mehbooba had endorsed the book’s claim that NC President Dr Farooq Abdullah privately supported the abrogation of Article 370, calling it unsurprising.
Omar Abdullah, speaking to reporters in Jammu, questioned Mehbooba Mufti’s acceptance of Dulat’s account as entirely factual. He challenged her to clarify her stance on Dulat’s previous claims about her father, late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, suggesting that selectively accepting such revelations undermines credibility.
Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, the founding leader of PDP and former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, was mentioned in Dulat’s earlier writings, sparking political debate. Omar hinted that if those claims are also considered true by Mehbooba, she should address their implications publicly.
Omar also questioned the reliability of Dulat’s narrative, criticizing his tendency to sensationalize political matters in his books. He expressed disappointment over Dulat’s role in stirring political controversies, questioning whether his intention is to inform or simply boost sales.
Earlier, Mehbooba Mufti, reacting to Dulat’s book, had stated that its revelations did not surprise her. She alleged that the Abdullah father-son duo had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi just days before Article 370 was revoked in August 2019. Mehbooba also claimed that Omar Abdullah had engaged with senior BJP leader Amit Shah in 2014, suggesting opportunistic engagements with the BJP by NC leadership.
