NEW DELHI, (PTI): Center should spell out the “increased quantum of autonomy” it was prepared to grant to the people of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) before any meaningful political process leading to elections could be initiated in the troubled state, the former J&K chief minister, Dr. Farooq Abdullah, said here June 27.

The government of India should be sincere about the level of autonomy and it should not be like the autonomy promised to Sheikh

Sahib where nothing materialized,” Dr .Abdullah said in an interview to PTI

He added that he was witnessing “winds of change” in Kashmir,

At present the situation is improving and I hope it will get better,” the former chief minister said after an approximately six weeks stay in the valley,

Farooq Abdullah resigned from the chief minister’s office in 1990 and was slaying outside India for most of the last two years, Recently he has started taking interest in the state polities, which is seen as a welcome sign AS he is still one of the major political forces there.  

Article extracted from this publication >> June 10, 1994