*Statehood demand not anti-national: CM Omar*

Srinagar, Sep 25 Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday said that demanding restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir was not an anti-national act.

Speaking to reporters after the Assembly witnessed disruption over the statehood resolution, the Chief Minister, as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), dared the BJP to point out any anti-national word in the resolution.

“Show me a single anti-national word used in the resolution,” Omar said.

He said the resolution seeking restoration of full statehood is distinct from the autonomy resolution already passed by the House.

“If the BJP wants to dilute the already passed resolutions, let them bring a resolution,” he said.

Accusing the BJP of enacting drama inside the House, Omar said the party does not want people to see the reality.
“The Leader of Opposition and the BJP are only opposed to statehood.

People of Jammu and Kashmir saw today that these 29 BJP MLAs are against statehood,” he said.

The Chief Minister said the resolution was only meant to urge the Centre to restore full statehood and the BJP should have allowed a discussion.
“BJP got exposed today. It would have been better to allow discussion over it,” he said.

On the Congress party’s stand on the resolution, the Chief Minister said there was nothing unconstitutional in the resolution.

“There is nothing wrong in it. It is in addition to those already passed. It is separate and there is nothing unconstitutional in it,” he added—(KNO)