By IANS,

Jammu : Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah has challenged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's vision and package for the return of Kashmiri Hindus to their homes in the valley.

"It cannot happen, whatever be the package, unless there is a resolution of Kashmir crisis," Abdullah told a gathering of prominent citizens, most of them Kashmiri Pandits or Hindus, in Jammu late Friday evening.

The Prime Minister's package, he said, would not work. "That is for sure."

This is in sharp contrast to his speeches during his rule from 1996 to 2002 when he would say that everything was fine for the Hindus to return to the Valley.

Abdullah is now blaming Delhi for all ills of Kashmir. He has also justified the visits of his party leaders to the houses of slain militants.

He also said recently that Pakistan was positive about Kashmir. It is in sharp contrast to his earlier statement that Pakistan should be bombed for exporting terrorism to Jammu and Kashmir.