Thursday, 17 October 2024
Thursday, 17 October 2024
Hours after taking oath as the new chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah announced his first decision by instructing the director-general of Jammu and Kashmir police that they should not accord any special treatment to the CM in terms of blocking vehicular traffic.
“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.” Abdullah posted on his X (Twitter) handle.
He also ordered the police to avoid “aggressive gestures” like waving sticks.
The chief minister added: “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 & not to inconvenience them.”
The National Conference leader was sworn in as the chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday, the first elected government in the Union territory since 2019 when Article 370 was abrogated.
On Wednesday, National Conference leader Abdullah took the oath as the head of the first elected government in the Union Territory since 2019, when Article 370 was abrogated.
Lt Governor Manoj Sinha administered the oath of office and secrecy to Abdullah, who takes over as chief minister for a second term and is the third generation of the Abdullah family to occupy the office — after his grandfather Sheikh Abdullah and father Farooq Abdullah.
INDIA block leaders, from Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Mallikarjun Kharge, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, Left leaders Prakash Karat and D. Raja, DMK’s Kanimozhi and NCP’s Supriya Sule to PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti attended the ceremony.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also congratulated Abdullah.
“Congratulations to Shri 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 PM posted on X.
Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee also congratulated Abdullah.
I congratulate Mr Omar Abdullah @OmarAbdullah on his being sworn in as the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir today. This is his second stint at the helm of public life in the state, but the juncture today is more historic,” Banerjee posted on her X handle.
She stated that Omar Abdullah’s return to the chair of the chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir was “triumphal” and congratulated the people of the state.
VIP movement on Indian roads has often drawn public ire.
In 2021, when President Ramnath Kovind was travelling on a special train to Kanpur, traffic was stopped in a flyover above the railway lines. A woman died in an ambulance because of the delay in the traffic.
In 2017, the Centre banned the use of red beacons on cars of ministers and senior officials.
But VIP movement still causes a menace. Per a report in The Print in January 2024, Noida witnessed a four-hour traffic jam because “convoys of Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also moved from Delhi to Bulandshahr via Noida”.
