Calls NC’s Silence a Betrayal of Public Trust; Demands Accountability from Leadership
People’s Democratic Party (PDP) leader and MLA from Pulwama, Waheed Ur Rehman Parra, on Wednesday questioned the National Conference’s (NC) role in the events leading up to the abrogation of Article 370, in light of recent claims made by former RAW chief A.S. Dulat in his latest book.
Parra alleged that Dulat’s revelations point to a silent complicity by senior NC leadership, particularly Dr. Farooq Abdullah, during one of the most critical junctures in Jammu and Kashmir’s political history. “Dulat writes that Dr. Farooq was not only in contact with the central government before the August 5 move but also met the Prime Minister just two days before the decision. Why was there complete silence from him and his party in the immediate aftermath?” Parra asked.
He criticized the NC for what he described as “calculated silence” during the six-month-long communication blackout and political crackdown that followed the revocation of Article 370 and 35A. “At a time when PDP leaders were jailed, dissenting voices muzzled, and civil liberties trampled upon, the NC maintained a deafening quiet. This raises serious questions about their political positioning and intent,” he said.
Parra claimed that while PDP faced the brunt of the crackdown—over 40 of its leaders detained and organizations like Jamaat-e-Islami banned—the NC remained largely unscathed. “Not a single mass protest, not a single bold statement. Instead, they chose electoral politics over resistance,” he said, referring to the NC’s participation in elections soon after the clampdown.
He also criticized the content of a resolution passed by the NC in the Legislative Assembly, alleging it lacked any reference to Article 370 and instead used diluted language that was reportedly praised by the BJP’s IT cell. “This wasn’t just political timidity; it was a betrayal of the people’s trust,” he remarked.
“Dulat’s book has pulled back the curtain on years of manufactured outrage and carefully choreographed opposition,” Parra said. “The NC has consistently portrayed itself as a defender of J&K’s special status, but in reality, it has enabled the erosion of that very identity.”
Calling for Dr. Farooq Abdullah to personally respond to the revelations, Parra stated, “This isn’t about party rivalry. It’s about truth and accountability. Let there be no ambiguity—people deserve to hear directly from him.”
He concluded by saying that the political legacy of the NC has been built not on resistance, but on selective silence and political opportunism. “Dulat’s account doesn’t shock us—it simply confirms what many in Jammu and Kashmir have long suspected. It’s time for the NC leadership to come clean.”
