Srinagar, Aug. 8 -- Srinagar- Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday expressed deep frustration over the delay in restoration of statehood to the Union Territory, saying the prolonged wait had fuelled public disappointment and eroded his own political capital.

In an interview with journalist Karan Thapar for The Wire, Abdullah said his initial strategy of building a constructive working relationship with the Union government, in the hope of securing an early restoration of statehood, had severely affected his political credibility among local constituents.

"I put a huge amount of my own political credibility at stake for this. I know for a fact that I've eroded a large part of it," Abdullah said.

"I will pay the price for sins that a...