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| Meeting expectations biggest challenge: Omar | | Farooq says will take over NC charge to revive party | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Jan 4: In a city thrown red with National Conference flags, the young Chief Minister-elect Omar Abdullah today arrived from Srinagar to an unprecedented welcome in the Winter Capital where hundreds of enthusiastic party activists had lined to greet him.
Omar Abdullah was accompanied by father Farooq, other family members and his brother-in-law, Congress MP Sachin Pilot. While wife Payal accompanied Omar all the way from airport in an open jeep, Farooq Abdullah rushed straight to the Sher-e-Kashmir Bhawan.
The road from airport to the party office, Sher-e-Kashmir Bhawan at Residency Road and then the circuitous route to Bathindi residence of the Abdullahs had been tastefully decorated with buntings and party flags. Welcome gates had been erected at a number of places and hundreds of party activists had gathered in groups to garland the young leader.
Upon his arrival at the Sher-e-Kashmir Bhawan, Omar Abdullah attended a meeting of the National Conference Legislature Party of which he was elected as the leader.
Speaking to the media persons, the youngest ever to-be Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir said that his challenges were numerous and highest among them was to prove true to the expectations of the people. “Level of expectations is high and my biggest challenge is to meet these expectations”. Omar said that in next few days he will sit down to work out priorities and initiate his plan of action to deliver on the front of governance.
However, he said that infrastructure development is a massive requirement in Jammu and Kashmir and he ‘will build on the foundation laid by Ghulam Nabi Azad’, his predecessor. About employment, the upcoming Chief Minister said that there cant be a ready made solution and the government will work to evolve measure for making youth self reliant. On power sector, he pointed out that large projects don’t bring relief immediately and therefore his government will come up with a plan to built mini and micro hydel projects and also explore possibilities of non-conventional sources of energy. “We will also concentrate on large projects and resume work on Sawalakote project”, said Omar and hastily added, Farooq Saheb had wanted to initiate work on Sawalakote but late it was got stopped…we will resume work on this prestigious work”.
When asked of wanted to ‘wage a war against corruption’, the biggest priority which his predecessor Ghulam Nabi Azad had outlined on taking over as Chief Minister, Omar candidly said, “I wont believe in waging any war on any thing. Corruption is a problem and it has to be dealt with a systematic mechanism and we will have such a system in place”.
The Chief Minister-elect, however, said that his government will immediately bring the Right to Information Act at part with the Central Act. “Strengthening RTI is my priority and I have already spoken to man who will be heading the State Information Commission”, he said. Omar pointed out that strengthening Accountability Commission is also an area of priority. “Appointment of SAC Chairman is a difficult task and no body agrees to come…this Commission was a creation of Mufti Saheb and I will approach him at an appropriate time to for his support to bring amendments”.
He said he was 'desirous' of talking to separatist leaders from the state. Omar Abdullah vowed to work for the equal development of three regions - Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh - of the state, saying he had many challenges ahead as the new chief minister of the state.
He said the huge turnout in recently concluded assembly elections was a blow to the separatists and 'they must have now realized that talks are the only way forward, and I am also desirous of having talks with them'.
The NC patron and former chief minister Farooq Abdullah said: 'I have to work for consolidating the party, analysing why party faced debacle in some areas, build bridges with separatists and also build bridges with Pakistan.'
He said his party has been assured by highest level in government of India for 'all possible support to run the government in Jammu and Kahsmir'.
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