With exit polls predicting an NDA-led government at the Centre, Omar Abdullah's National Conference (NC) has set off the autonomy balloon in air to mount pressure on the new government to “rectify the mistakes made by the Vajpayee-led government”.

On June 26, 2000, Farooq Abdullah's NC government had passed an autonomy resolution in the legislative assembly. The then NDA government summarily rejected the resolution, describing it as anti-national because it would have created a “state within a state”.

“We anticipate, without reminder, they (Modi-led government) will rectify the mistake they have done in the past,” NC's additional general secretary Mustafa Kamal told dna. “They have treated the autonomy resolution passed by the legislative assembly with utter disregard. And if necessary the government may send them a reminder. They are duty bound to take call on our greater autonomy resolution.”

Under the resolution, Jammu and Kashmir would enjoy complete autonomy, and only four issues — defence, foreign policy, currency and communications — would lie with the Centre.