Former Chief Justice T S Thakur Withdraws from Book Launch Amid Row Over Farooq Abdullah Remarks
New Delhi, April 18 – Former Chief Justice of India T S Thakur has declined to attend the launch of former Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) chief A S Dulat’s new book, citing the political controversy triggered by certain excerpts related to National Conference president Farooq Abdullah. The book, titled The Chief Minister and the Spy, was scheduled to be released on Friday at a ceremony where Justice (Retd.) Thakur was expected to officiate the launch.
As per agency report, Justice Thakur’s decision comes a day after Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah stated in Jammu that his father, Farooq Abdullah, would not be attending the launch. Farooq Abdullah had earlier publicly rejected Dulat’s claim that he had “personally supported” the abrogation of Article 370, the constitutional provision that had granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir. Calling the claim baseless, Abdullah accused Dulat of seeking "cheap publicity" to promote his upcoming book.
The central government, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party, had abrogated Article 370 on August 5, 2019, and bifurcated the former state into two union territories. Dulat’s assertion that Abdullah privately backed this move has stirred political debate and media attention.
In a written response to Dulat's invitation, Justice Thakur expressed his discomfort with the unfolding controversy. He acknowledged having initially agreed to participate in the launch but stated that the media coverage surrounding the book's content, particularly references to Abdullah’s alleged remarks, had caused a political storm. Justice Thakur emphasized his longstanding personal rapport with the Abdullah family and clarified that he did not wish to be associated with promoting a book that the central figure in question had publicly disavowed.
Justice Thakur further noted that Farooq Abdullah was also supposed to participate in a discussion about the book alongside journalist Vir Sanghvi but is now unlikely to attend. He expressed regret for the inconvenience his withdrawal might cause to Dulat and the book’s publishers on the eve of the launch but hoped that his position would be understood in light of the sensitive circumstances.
A S Dulat, a former intelligence chief, has authored several books on Kashmir and national security, and his latest work had been anticipated for its candid insights into political dynamics. However, the backlash from Farooq Abdullah and the resulting political furore have cast a shadow over its release event.
