Former CJI Thakur skips ex-RAW chief Dulat’s book launch event amid row over Farooq Abdullah’s support for Article 370 abrogation

Former Chief Justice of India T.S. Thakur, who was supposed to launch former R&AW chief A.S. Dulat's book ‘The Chief Minister and The Spy’, has opted out of the event amid controversy over contents in the book related to National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah and a few others. The book launch was scheduled for later today.

 

In his response to Dulat's invitation, Justice (Retd) Thakur said, "While I had accepted your kind invitation to participate in the release function, I have since yesterday (Wednesday) seen a political storm brewing in the print and electronic media for certain parts of your book especially those attributing certain statements to (Farooq) Abdullah whom you admire and treat as a valued friend,” PTI reported.

 

Former CJI said the political overtones surrounding the controversy would be an embarrassment for him and he would like to avoid it “not only on account of my long and cordial association with the Abdullah family but also because as a totally apolitical person”. “I would not like to be seen promoting or endorsing a book which is being disowned by the very person about whom the same has been written," Justice Thakur said.

 

Though Farooq Abdullah was also invited to the event, his son and Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said the former would not be attending the book launch. Abdullah had earlier dismissed Dulat’s claims in the book that he “secretly” supported the abrogation of Article 370. Abdullah called it a “cheap stunt” to boost sales of the book.

India