Farooq controversy fuels demand for Dulat’s book
Amid a political storm in the Kashmir Valley over claims made by former RAW chief AS Dulat in his new book regarding National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah “supporting” the abrogation of Article 370, bookstores in Srinagar report a sharp rise in demand for the book.
In his book, “The Chief Minister and the Spy – An Unlikely Friendship”, Dulat writes about Article 370, stating: “Farooq was terribly hurt... maybe. When I met him in 2020, he told me, ‘The NC (National Conference) could even have had the proposal passed in the Assembly... we would have helped. Why were we not taken into confidence?’”
The revelations have triggered a political uproar in the Valley, with opposition parties describing them as a “betrayal.” Farooq Abdullah, however, dismissed Dulat’s claims as a “cheap stunt” aimed at boosting the book’s sales, calling it “full of inaccuracies.”
Sheikh Aijaz of Gulshan Book Store said that over 100 copies have been sold in just three days. “On the first day, it wasn’t in high demand. But after it hit the news and political leaders began commenting, people started asking about it, and demand increased quickly,” he said, adding that the book was now flying off the shelves.
The owner of another bookstore in Srinagar said they had initially ordered 10 copies, which were sold within hours. “We are receiving a lot of queries about the book, especially after the statements issued by political leaders,” he said, adding that media coverage significantly boosted interest.
He added that the book has sparked curiosity across various sections of society. “People want to know and read about it. Dulat’s books have always received a good response,” he said.
As the controversy continues, National Conference president Farooq Abdullah did not attend the book launch in New Delhi on Friday. Responding to a post on X, Abdullah’s daughter, Safia Abdullah Khan, confirmed that he would not be attending the function.
