Omar Abdullah takes oath as J-K CM, lays thrust on serving people

New Delhi [India], October 17 (ANI): Omar Abdullah, who took oath as Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister on Wednesday, started his innings with a people-friendly gesture and conveyed that he has told the police not to have "green corridor" or traffic stoppage during his movement by road and effort should be to cause minimum inconvenience to people.
The National Conference leader was administered the oath of office and secrecy by the LG Manoj Sinha at Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar.
Surinder Kumar, MLA from Nowshera in Jammu, was sworn in as the Deputy Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir along with other ministers.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other leaders of INDIA bloc were also present for the swearing in ceremony.
After taking oath, Omar Abdullah received a guard of honour at Civil Secretariat in Srinagar and held his first maiden meeting with secretaries of various departments.
In a people-friendly gesture, Omar Abdullah said he has told the police not to have "green corridor" or traffic stoppage during his movement by road.
He also said that use of stick or aggressive gestures during road movements is to be avoided.
He said he has asked his cabinet colleagues to follow the same example.
Omar Abdullah, who is heading the National Conference-led government in the state, has backing of other parties in INDIA alliance and four independents. The NC-Congress alliance won majority in the assembly polls.
Omar Abdullah said the aim of his government is to serve people, not to inconvenience them. "I have spoken to the DG @JmuKmrPolice that there is to be no "green corridor" or traffic stoppage when I move anywhere by road. I have instructed him to minimise public inconvenience & the use of sirens is to be minimal," Omar Abdullah said in his first post on X after taking oath as Chief Minister.
"The use of any stick waving or aggressive gestures is to be totally avoided. I'm asking my cabinet colleagues to follow the same example. In everything our conduct must be people friendly. We are here to serve the people and not to inconvenience them," he added.
Omar Abdullah had earlier served as Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir from 2009 and 2015.
Earlier on Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended greetings to Omar Abdullah on taking oath as the UT's first CM.
"Congratulations to Omar Abdullah Ji on taking oath as the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir. Wishing him the very best in his efforts to serve the people. The Centre will work closely with him and his team for J-K's progress," the Prime Minister said.
Rahul Gandhi a post on X said that government formation without statehood felt incomplete.
"Congratulations to CM Omar Abdullah and to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. However, government formation without statehood felt incomplete today. Democracy was snatched from the people of Jammu and Kashmir, and today we renew our pledge to continue our fight until statehood is fully restored," he said.
The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC)-Congress alliance won majority in the assembly polls. NC won 42 seats while the Congress, its ally in the INDIA bloc, could only win 6 seats.
The BJP put up a impressive performance bagging 29 seats. Peoples' Democratic Party won three seats and one seat each was won by the People's Conference, CPI-M and AAP. Seven seats were won by the Independents.
The results of the three-phased elections in Jammu and Kashmir were declared on October 8. This was the first election in Jammu and Kashmir after abrogation of Article 370. (ANI)