Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said he has an "eternal regret" of not taking up legal studies as he believes "good politicians are also good lawyers".
"Justice Altamas Kabir (Chief Justice of India) is the most qualified person to inaugurate this judicial academy...Of that there is little or no doubt.
"Extending that thought a little further, I am perhaps one of the least qualified person in this room to delve into or actually deliver a presidential address on the matter at the inauguration, because I know very little about law," Omar said at the inaugural function of the State Judicial Academy Complex here.
Omar said, though he is "least qualified" in the subject, yet as a "good politician" he never says no.
"I am least qualified to speak on the subject, but as a good politician I never say no.
"And when the microphone is put in front of me, I will wax eloquently even if at the end of the day nothing I have said happens to be of any major consequence or any degree of importance," he said on a lighter note.
The Chief Minister said there is a symbiotic relationship between politics and law.
"There is a symbiotic relationship between politicians and law, particularly lawyers. Good politicians are very good lawyers. Successful politicians are also successful lawyers.
"And it helps, when you have a good law background and you are a politician, because the day people decide to throw you out, you have a legal practice to call back home and you can keep doing it.
"And when the people bring you back, the legal practice can either be handed over to a son, a daughter, a brother, a sister or a colleague and you come back to politics and life goes on," Omar said.
The Chief Minister said that he was advised to take up law, but he did not "listen" to it.
"And unfortunately, much to my eternal regret I did not take up the advice of a former Chief Justice of India, who many many years ago had told me that I should take up legal studies. Much to my regret I did not listen and it is one of those decisions that I have greatly regretted down the years," he added.
