By NAK,
Jammu : “I am a Muslim and I am an Indian, and I see no distinction between the two. I don’t know why should I fear the nuclear deal. It is a deal between two countries which, I hope, will become two equals in the future. The enemies of Indian Muslims are not America or deals like these. The enemies are the same as the enemies of all those who are poor — poverty, hunger, lack of development and the absence of a voice….”, said Omar Abdullah, while participating in No-Confidence motion in the Parliament on July 22, 2008, which won him world wide fame. He is now going to be the youngest and eleventh chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir.
Omar is the third generation Sheikh family member, to lead National Conference in the state. His grandfather and father ruled the state for five terms.
In his biography the young political leader, who played a significant role during his tenure as external affairs minister in the BJP led NDA government, says he has a special interest to finding long-term solution to the problem of unemployment among the youth in Jammu and Kashmir.
Omar will be the eleventh chief minister of the state and sixth from his own party. The earlier five chief ministers from his party were his grand father Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah (From February 25, 1975 to March 26, 1977 and July 9 1977 to September 8, 1982) and Dr Farooq Abdullah (From September 8, 1982 to July 2, 1984, November 7, 1986 to January 19, 1990 and October 9, 1996 to October 18, 2002).
Beside Abdullah family Ghulam Mohammed Sadiq of Indian National Congress (March 30, 1965 to December 12, 1971), Syed Mir Qasim of Indian National Congress (December 12, 1971 to February 25, 1975), Ghulam Mohammad Shah of Awami National Conference (July 2, 1984 to March 6, 1986), Mufti Mohammad Sayeed of PDP (November 2, 2002 to November 2, 2005) and Ghulam Nabi Azad of Congress (November 2, 2005 to July 11, 2008) served the state as chief ministers.
Born on 10 March 1970 at Rochford, Essex (UK), Omar has his schooling at the Burn Hall School Srinagar. He later studied at the exclusive institution The Lawrence School, Sanawar and is an alumni of prestigious Sydenham College, Mumbai.
In 1998, Omar Abdullah was elected to 12th Lok Sabha. In 1998-99, he was Member, Committee on Transport and Tourism and Member, Consultative Committee, Ministry of Tourism. He was the youngest Minister at the age of 29.
In 1999, Omar was re-elected to 13th Lok Sabha (2nd term). On October 13, 1999 he took oath as Union Minister of State, Commerce and Industry and on July 22, 2001, he was made Union Minister of State, External Affairs.
He was re-elected as President of National Conference for a second term in 2006.
In March 2006, much to the disapproval of the centre, Omar Abdullah had a one-on-one meeting with Pakistan President, Pervez Musharaf in Islamabad. This was the first meeting of its kind between a main-stream politician from Kashmir and the Pakistani government thereby re-enforcing Omar’s growing commitment to the solution of the Kashmir cause – no matter what the stakes might be; Omar received a rousing reception by thousands of Kashmiris upon his return from there.
On July 9, 2007, Omar escaped a bid on his life when suspected militants threw two rifle grenades targeted at him. The incident happened when Omar was interacting with party workers at a party leader’s house.
He was also seen briefly, playing himself in director, Apoorva Lakhia’s film, Mission Istanbul (2008), based on international terrorism