Sir,
Hats off to Mr. Omar Abdullah for raising and highlighting the nationalistic views through his article ”The Dangers of an Ex-RAW Chief’s Tell All”. How come it is that every Tom and Harry who once remained at the helm of national affairs and who is in knowhow of the Top National secrets come out with a book one day after his retirement disclosing and making public the secrets and decisions taken by the then Government and the Political functionaries in the national interest as per the situation and circumstances prevailing at that point of time. Two things are coming up in my mind that why such top ex Bureaucrats are permitted to discuss the National Issues in the public by disclosing the Top Secrets and the decisions taken which they might also be a party at that time. Is there no law in India which prohibits them in doing so as rightly pointed by the author referring the example of former head of M15 (UK) who wanted to release her memoir “A Life of Surprises” but was not permitted and the same was forced through its Vetting by the respective Government before its publication. Secondly this act of theirs is nothing more than getting sensational publicity for sale of their book at the cost of National Security and Integrity, derailing the possible peace initiatives by exposing the parties involved in the process. Now look, in this case A S Dulat in his interviews and whatever we gathered from media, has said that Kandhar Episode was not handled properly. Why he could not question it at that time and revolt/resign from the post whatever he was working at against the wrong decision if any. I fully agree with Mr. Omar that the only solution to the vexed Jammu and Kashmir problem will emerge out of sustained dialogue with all the stakeholders and if during the course of this long drawn process, the secrets are allowed to be made public, the behind the scene contacts will definitely shirk to come forward and will not trust the Government agencies any more.
It is the right time for the Government to wake up, have some law or enforce it if it is already there by way of vetting and censoring such autobiographic publications in the interest of National Security, integrity and peaceful progress of the Nation.
Yours etc…
Dr. M. D. Bali
Channi Himmat,
Jammu