Srinagar, Sept. 11 -- After facing backlash over the 'one trouser' remark, J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday defended National Conference chief spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq, saying his remarks were historically correct and that he does not need to apologise.

Omar, while speaking to reporters, said people faced acute poverty in the past and that Sadiq's remarks were based on historical evidence documented in books.

"Whatever Tanvir said is historically correct. He does not need to apologise or offer any clarification," Omar said.

Sadiq's remarks had triggered a row on Wednesday after he claimed that poverty in Kashmir was so severe before the party founder Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah's movement that an entire village would share a ...