Srinagar, July 22 -- Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah on Tuesday dismissed Congress allegations that his party did not support their protest over the restoration of statehood, saying no prior discussion or coordination was made with his party on the issue.

"First of all, talk to us," Omar said while speaking to reporters during his visit to Safapora. "We only read about these protests in the newspapers. No one reached out to us directly. Even during the recent INDIA bloc meeting, this issue wasn't raised. Had they discussed it, we would not have hesitated to support it."

According to KNS, he said that the National Conference was among the first to formally raise the demand for the ret...