Omar Abdullah
| Omar Abdullah
عمر عبدالله | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Abdullah in 2012 | |
| Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 5 January 2009 | |
| Governor | Narinder Nath Vohra |
| Preceded by | President's Rule |
| Minister of State for External Affairs | |
| In office 23 July 2001 – 23 December 2002 | |
| Prime Minister | Atal Bihari Vajpayee |
| Preceded by | Krishnam Raju |
| Succeeded by | Digvijay Singh |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 10 March 1970 Rochford, Essex, United Kingdom |
| Political party | Jammu and Kashmir National Conference |
| Spouse(s) | Payal (Separated) [1][2][3] |
| Children | Zahir and Zamir (sons) |
| Residence | Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India |
Omar Abdullah Urdu: عمر عبداللہ;Hindi: उमर अब्दुल्ला;
pronunciation (help·info); (born 10 March 1970) is an Indian Kashmiri politician and the scion of one of the state's most prominent political family, the Abdullah family[4][5][6] who became the 11th and the youngest Chief Minister of the Indian State of Jammu and Kashmir, after forming a government in coalition with the Congress party, on 5 January 2009.[6][7]
He was a member of 14th Lok Sabha, representing Srinagar constituency of Jammu and Kashmir, India. He was a Union Minister of State for External affairs in Atal Bihari Vajpayee's NDA government, from 23 July 2001 to 23 December 2002. He resigned from NDA government in October 2002 to concentrate on party work.[8]
Omar joined politics in 1998, as a Lok Sabha member, a feat he repeated in subsequent three elections and also remained a Union minister; he took on the mantle of National Conference from his father in 2002, though he lost his own seat of Ganderbal during the 2002 state assembly elections, and so did his party, the political mandate; four years later, he contested once again from the same seat and won in the 2008 Kashmir Elections.[5]
Early life and education
Omar Abdullah was born 10 March 1970 in Rochford, Essex, United Kingdom. He is the son of Farooq Abdullah, a qualified surgeon and grandson of Sheikh Abdullah, all three of whom have been on the List of Prime and Chief Ministers of Jammu and Kashmir.[9] His mother Mollie, an Englishwoman and a nurse by profession, was not in favor of him joining politics.[10] He studied at the Burn Hall School, Srinagar and then at Lawrence School, Sanawar.[11] He is an alumnus of Sydenham College, Mumbai (where he did his B.Com.)., although he did not complete it.[12]
He married Payal Nath,[13] but on September 2011, he has confirmed that he and his wife are separated.[1][2][3] His younger sister, Sara Abdullah, is married to Sachin Pilot, son of Rajesh Pilot.
Political career
Youngest Minister
Before joining politics, Omar Abdullah was posted in Hyderabad and Mumbai. In 1998, at the age of 29, Omar Abdullah was elected to 12th Lok Sabha, becoming the youngest minister. In 1998-99, he was a member of both the Committee on Transport and Tourism and the Ministry of Tourism's Consultative Committee. In 1999, he was elected to 13th Lok Sabha (2nd term as a Member of Parliament).[14] On 13 October 1999 he took oath as Union Minister of State, Commerce and Industry. On 22 July 2001, he became the youngest Union Minister, when he was made Union Minister of State for External affairs. He resigned from the post on 23 December 2002, to concentrate on party work.[8]
President of National Conference
On 23 June 2002, he became the President of the National Conference party, replacing his father, Farooq Abdullah.[12] He lost his Ganderbal seat in the Kashmir assembly elections held in September–October 2002.[15] Abdullah was re-elected as the National Conference party's president in 2006.
Dialogue with Pakistan
In March 2006, much to the disapproval of the centre[citation needed], Omar Abdullah had a one-on-one meeting with Pakistan's president, Pervez Musharaf, in Islamabad. This was the first meeting of its kind between a mainstream politician from Jammu & Kashmir and the Pakistani government, thereby re-enforcing Omar's growing commitment to the solution of the Jammu & Kashmir cause. Omar received a rousing reception by thousands of Kashmiris upon his return.[citation needed]
Speech at Lok Sabha
On 22 July 2008, Omar gave a passionate speech during the 2008 Lok Sabha vote of confidence,[16] which was praised by almost all quarters, and even won him fans on the internet.[17][18]
Chief Minister
After the 2008 Kashmir Elections, the National Conference won the maximum number of seats, and formed a coalition government with the Congress party, and Omar was sworn in as the 11th Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir on 5 January 2009 at the General Zoravar Singh Auditorium in the University of Jammu, Jammu, raising hope amongst the people of Jammu and Kashmir who had been reeling under insurgency and violence since 1989.[19]
Appearances in other media
Films
- He was also seen briefly, playing himself, in director Apoorva Lakhia’s film, Mission Istanbul (2008), based on international terrorism.[20][21]
Criticism
- In 2009, Omar Abdullah was accused of covering up the rape and murder of two young women in Shopian, which was allegedly perpetrated by Indian Paramilitary Forces.[22] Many regarded this as Abdullah's first failure, as even moderates felt Abdullah had bowed to pressure from New Delhi.[23]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 http://news.oneindia.in/2011/09/15/jk-cm-omar-abdullah-confirms-divorce-but-not-marriage.html
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-09-15/india/30160010_1_omar-abdullah-zahir-and-zamir-j-k-cm Omar Abdullah divorcing wife after 17 years
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 http://www.indianexpress.com/news/omar-abdullah-confirms-separation-with-wife/847125/ Omar Abdullah divorcing wife after 17 years
- ↑ "the third-generation Abdullah family member following the footsteps of the family peers". The Hindu. 5 January 2009.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Omar Abdullah not just another political scion CNN-IBN, 5 Jan 2009.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Omar Abdullah takes oath as youngest J&K chief minister NDTV, Monday, 5 January 2009 2:01 PM.
- ↑ Omar Abdullah to be sworn in as J&K CM today Times of India, 5 Jan 2009.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Omar Abdullah resigns from Union Cabinet". www.rediff.com. 14 October 2002. Retrieved 2009-07-09.
- ↑ Omar Abdullah www.the-south-asian.com, November, 2001
- ↑ NEWSMAKER: Omar Abdullah Business Standard, New Delhi, 2 January 2009.
- ↑ "CEC, Omar Abdullah attend Sanawar school celebrations". The Hindu (Chennai, India). 5 October 2009.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Omar Abdullah–Profile Conflict Between India and Pakistan: An Encyclopedia, by Peter Lyon. Published by ABC-CLIO, 2008. ISBN 1-57607-712-8. Page 1.
- ↑ Omar Abdullah sworn in as J&K CM Times of India, 5 Jan 2009.
- ↑ Portraits of India's Parliamentarians for the New Millennium, by R. C. Rajamani. Published by Gyan Pub. House, 2000. ISBN 81-212-0692-8. Page 218.
- ↑ "Omar loses Ganderbal, NC prepares to sit in Opposition". ExpressIndia.com. 10 October 2002. Retrieved 2009-08-13.
- ↑ Give us a voice, says NC’s Omar Abdullah, floors House with own Indian Express, 23 July 2008.
- ↑ Omar Abdullah wins many fans on YouTube News, 24 July 2008.
- ↑ Omar Abdullah to go Kalam way on internet Live Mint, 5 Jan 2009.
- ↑ Kashmir pins hopes on young, energetic Omar Abdullah The Hindu, Tuesday, 6 January 2009: 1515 Hrs.
- ↑ Apoorva gets lookalikes! Times of India, Times of India, 25 July 2008.
- ↑ http://www.rediff.com/movies/report/lakhia/20080724.htm
- ↑ By Altaf Hussain (7 July 2009). "Another woman 'killed' in Kashmir". BBC News, Srinagar. Retrieved 2009-07-09.
- ↑ S Murari (22 June 2009). "Kashmir in turmoil over suspected rape and murder". Asiantribune.com. Retrieved 2009-07-02.
- ↑ http://www.ndtv.com/article/cheat-sheet/kishtwar-violence-11-arrested-amid-political-war-in-jammu-and-kashmir-404746
External links
| Find more about Omar Abdullah at Wikipedia's sister projects | |
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Quotations from Wikiquote |
| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by President's Rule |
Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir 5 January 2009 – present |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
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