Omar dismissed the assertion that state subject laws had been a hindrance to the development of the state.
"The state subject laws protect our people. How are they a hindrance in the development of the state? If the state lacked in development it was because of the prevailing situation. Before (the eruption of militancy in) 1989, nobody complained of such a thing. Factories were being set up everywhere but nobody questioned the state subject laws."
"This is not the only state in the country where this law is in force. There are other states where such laws are prevalent but nobody talks about them," he said.
The chief minister took a jibe at Singh, saying the new minister should have "controlled his emotions" on taking over his responsibilities in the PMO.
"I think the honourable minister became emotional as perhaps he was not expecting such a position for himself and work in the PMO. He should have controlled his emotions but very soon he came to know the reality and he had to retract his statement. But till then the damage had been done," Omar said.
