Srinagar, Apr 15 (UNI)J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday expressed optimism about the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood, following his recent meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Srinagar.

“ We feel that the right time for restoration of Statehood has arrived as six months have now passed after the Assembly elections.. Last week Union Home sahib visited both Srinagar and Jammu. I had a separate meeting with him. It was a good meeting… I am still hoping that Jammu and Kashmir will get the status of a state again very soon,” Omar told reporters in told reporters in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir.

Amid criticism over the not allowing a debate on the Waqf Act during the recently concluded Assembly session, Omar attributed it to procedural constraints
There has been long of anger at J&K Speaker and ruling National Conference for not allowing a debate on the Waqf (Amendment) Act.

The Chief Minister said that legislators had attempted to raise the issue through an adjournment motion , which is specifically meant for matters related to the affairs of the Jammu and Kashmir government.

“Speaker sahib clarified every matter on the final day of the Session. Maybe the mistake of the members was that they brought an adjournment motion. The adjournment motion is brought only for the work of the Jammu and Kashmir government because at that time the government has to answer,” Omar said

He questioned the relevance of using an adjournment motion for an issue legislated by the Centre.

“Now tell me, if this adjournment motion had been admitted, what would we have answered? The Waqf bill was not brought by us. It has been passed by the central government and Parliament. So what would the government of Jammu and Kashmir answer?” he asked.

Omar added that the resolution could perhaps have been considered if it had been moved under a different legal provision.
“If this resolution had been brought in some other way or under some other law, then maybe it could have been admitted,” he said.

The chief minister said the NC has moved to the Supreme Court against the Act.
“Various parties, including the National Conference, have put their case in front of the Supreme Court. Now let’s see what the Supreme Court's decision will be,” Omar said.

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