National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah Saturday said there was “a level of mistrust” in Jammu and Kashmir and it was for India to remove it.
Speaking to reporters upon their return from Delhi after attending an all-party meet convened by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Jammu and Kashmir, Farooq said he would hold discussions with his party leaders and PAGD constituents before making any further statement on the meeting.
He said India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru promised plebiscite to the people of J&K, but went back on it. He also said that before the 1996 elections, the then prime minister P V Narasimha Rao had promised autonomy from the floor of the house.
“Narasimha Raoji before elections promised us autonomy and said the sky is the limit, but not independence. We said we never asked (for) independence, we have asked for autonomy. He promised us from the floor of the house. Where is that?” Farooq asked.
“There is a level of mistrust…We should wait and see what they (the Centre) do… Whether they will remove the mistrust or let it continue,” he added.
The former CM said even senior Congress leader Karan Singh has called for the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir before holding elections.