Jammu, March 5 (IANS) Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Saturday praised Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senior leader Muzaffar Hussain Beig whose allegation against him in July 2009 linking him to an infamous sex scandal led him to quit his post.

"God knows, I have differences with Muzaffar Beig but he made an excellent, almost statesman like, intervention in the assembly today," Omar tweeted about a speech of the PDP leader in the legislative assembly Saturday in which he reflected on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir and made a strong defence of Article 370 of the Indian constitution that grants special status to the state.

Beig, former deputy chief minister, was speaking on the motion of thanks on the governor's address.

Beig had linked the chief minister to the sex scandal that had rocked Srinagar in 2006. The charge was later described as "baseless", but made Omar Abdullah put in his papers.

However, Governor N.N. Vohra had refused to accept the resignation.

A sex scandal hit the Valley in 2006. According to reports, girls, including minors, were coerced into prostitution, blackmailed and supplied to top police officials, bureaucrats, politicians, ministers and surrendered militants. The state witnessed angry protests over the issue.