Omar Abdullah, the scion of Jammu and Kashmir’s most illustrious but equally controversial political family — the Abdullahs — and the youngest chief minister the state, completed three years in office on Thursday. He termed his innings as being the best as well as the worst of the times. He said, “It was the best of the times, it was the worst of the times... the words of Charles Dickens from a Tale of Two Cities sums up my three years in office.”
For the Opposition and other critics he has been a “catastrophe.” Mr Abdullah’s bête noire and People’s Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti said, “With the blood of hundreds of innocents on its hands, the 12 standard student Altaf Ahmed of Bonyar, Uri being only the latest, the coalition government’s celebration of three years rule looks obscene.” Ms Mufti charged, “The three years of Omar government have been about sheer survival, anarchy, mis-governance and political failures.” The separatists, on expected lines, seek to discard him as being “another stooge thrust upon the people” by New Delhi. Neutral observers, however, assert his performance should be analysed strictly keeping in view the circumstances he has toiled in.
Mr Abdullah, who will be 42 in March, said destiny had scripted that he would become chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir. “I was destined to become chief minister, so I became, otherwise it was either going to be my father Farooq Abdullah from National Conference or Ghulam Nabi Azad from Congress,” he said while speaking at a compendium releasing function at the lawns of Civil Secretariat in winter capital Jammu on completion of the three years of the NC-Congress coalition government. He added, “To tell you the truth, I was not even in the waiting list.”
Describing “unabated support” extended by people to his government during last three years as his “biggest achievement”, Mr Abdullah pledged to continue his endeavours with added vigour and energy to drive Jammu and Kashmir towards peace and prosperity.
“It is the full support of the people that has been my biggest strength and I’ve been able to steer the State clear of tumult waters. After Almighty Allah if my gratitude is due, it is only to the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
He was equally grateful to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, finance minister Pranab Mukherjee, home minister, P. Chidambaram and other UPA leaders for their “unflinching and liberal support” that, he said, helped the state to register substantial achievements in all sectors of development and strengthening ties between coalition partners.
“My efforts for making Jammu and Kashmir a model State in the country would continue in next three years with more zest and commitment. I want to make the State an example of peace and progress,” he said.
The statement is also seen by Kashmir watchers as an attempt to reinforce his claim to the top notch post for remaining three years and to silence those within Congress party and outside who continue to ask for rotational chief minister.
He identified three sectors of peace, unemployment and electricity as thrust areas for focusing during the next half of the tenure of his government and said that the war against corruption will continue with same force and perspective. “The efforts would be redoubled to achieve the development goals. We want to face the people with ‘our heads up’ at the end of the tenure”, he said promised.