JAMMU, June 6 -- Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah on Friday raised the issue of statehood for the union territory in front of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying that he had been demoted. Abdullah was sharing the stage with PM Modi and the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha, as the Katra-Srinagar Vande Bharat express was inaugurated.

"I have been fortunate to be associated with the Prime Minister in all railway projects in J&K. First, when Anantnag Railway Station was inaugurated. Second, when the Banihal Railway Tunnel was inaugurated," Abdullah said in his address.

Bringing up the statehood issue, Abdullah joked that while LG Manoj Sinha got promoted to his current position from a junior position, he ...