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Omar Abdullah

About Omar Abdullah

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Who is Omar Abdullah?

Omar Abdullah is an Indian politician from Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) who served as the Chief Minister of the state from January 5, 2009 to January 8, 2015.
 
In the recently concluded 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Omar Abdullah conceded defeat from jailed independent candidate Er Rashid in the Baramulla constituency in North Kashmir.
 
Abdullah is the vice-president of the Jammu & Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) and has served as the 11th Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir from 2009 to 2015. Born on March 10, 1970, in Rochford, Essex, England, Abdullah comes from a political family; his father, Farooq Abdullah, and grandfather, Sheikh Abdullah, were both influential leaders in the region. Known for his progressive stance on various issues, Omar Abdullah has been a significant figure in the political landscape of J&K.
Education
 
Omar Abdullah completed his early education at the Burn Hall School in Srinagar and then attended the Lawrence School, Sanawar in Himachal Pradesh. He later pursued higher education at Sydenham College in Mumbai, where he earned a Bachelor's degree in Commerce.
 
Political Journey
 
Omar Abdullah's political career began in 1998 when he was elected to the 12th Lok Sabha, representing the Srinagar constituency. As a member of the National Conference, showcasing his leadership abilities and commitment to the development of J&K, he quickly rose through the ranks. In 2001, he was appointed as the Minister of State for External Affairs in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government, making him the youngest minister to hold the position at the time.
 
In 2002, Abdullah was elected as the president of the JKNC, succeeding his father, Farooq Abdullah. In the 2008 J&K Legislative Assembly elections, the National Conference emerged as the single largest party, and Omar Abdullah was appointed the Chief Minister of J&K in 2009. His tenure as Chief Minister was marked by efforts to improve infrastructure, education, and healthcare in the region, as well as addressing security concerns and fostering dialogue for peace and development.
 
After completing his term as Chief Minister in 2015, Abdullah continued to play an active role in the political landscape of Jammu and Kashmir. He has been vocal about the political autonomy of the region and has consistently advocated for the restoration of J&K's special status, which was abrogated in August 2019.

Latest Updates on Omar Abdullah

While there is no precise estimate of the south Indian film industry's size, a 2022 report by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) valued it at approximately Rs 74,900 crore

Updated On: 22 Dec 2024 | 3:41 PM IST

The PDP leader who is a vocal critic of the National Conference government also complained about the power curtailments durin the ongoing winter months

Updated On: 21 Dec 2024 | 7:24 PM IST

The chief minister took note of key issues raised during the meeting such as progress in respect of industrial estates and installation of smart meters. He directed immediate review and resolution

Updated On: 16 Dec 2024 | 9:51 PM IST

He said parties should not contest elections if they do not trust the voting mechanism

Updated On: 15 Dec 2024 | 11:17 PM IST

Abdullah was responding to a question during an exclusive interview on Friday with PTI whether his family's fourth generation will go into politics

Updated On: 15 Dec 2024 | 12:49 PM IST

In his first sit-down interview since assuming office in October, Abdullah expressed cautious optimism over the Centre's commitment to restoring J-K's statehood

Updated On: 14 Dec 2024 | 5:18 PM IST

Discussing the impact of industrial packages, Abdullah cautioned against their transient nature

Updated On: 09 Dec 2024 | 11:11 PM IST

The two government employees dismissed from service were identified as Abdul Rehman Naika, a pharmacist in the health department, and Zahir Abbas, a teacher in the school education department

Updated On: 30 Nov 2024 | 2:32 PM IST

Abdullah, while reviewing the functioning of the Hospitality and Protocol Department, asked officials to ensure optimal utilisation, upgradation, and renovation of departmental assets

Updated On: 20 Nov 2024 | 7:50 AM IST

J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah says hydropower potential of the region thwarted by the 1960 Indus Water Treaty. Peoples Conference's Sajad Lone slams Abdullah's remarks as 'right-wing rhetoric'

Updated On: 15 Nov 2024 | 11:29 AM IST

Rather emphasised the need for heightened vigilance following a series of terror attacks in the Union Territory

Updated On: 12 Nov 2024 | 8:39 AM IST

He highlighted the importance of shifting tourism efforts from high volume to high value, emphasising quality over quantity

Updated On: 11 Nov 2024 | 9:51 PM IST

The J-K CM stated that his government's agenda will be decided by the people of J-K. He emphasised that the situation in the union territory cannot be normalised in a vacuum and that the government

Updated On: 09 Nov 2024 | 11:21 AM IST

A massive joint search operation has been launched by police and the Army in a dense forest area following the gruesome killings

Updated On: 08 Nov 2024 | 7:14 AM IST

BJP members continued to protest in the J&K Assembly on Thursday against the resolution and three party MLAs were marshalled out on the directions of Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather

Updated On: 07 Nov 2024 | 2:48 PM IST

J&K Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary moved the resolution for restoring the erstwhile state's special status, which was revoked by the Centre on August 5, 2019

Updated On: 06 Nov 2024 | 2:48 PM IST

Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on Wednesday passed a resolution asking the Centre to hold dialogue with elected representatives for restoration of special status of the erstwhile state

Updated On: 06 Nov 2024 | 2:41 PM IST

"That this legislative assembly reaffirms the importance of the special status and constitutional guarantees, which safeguarded the identity, culture, and rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir

Updated On: 06 Nov 2024 | 2:22 PM IST

This Assembly emphasises that any process for restoration must safeguard both national unity and the legitimate aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, the resolution added

Updated On: 06 Nov 2024 | 11:47 AM IST

Jammu and Kashmir's Chief Minister Omar Abdullah contended that the resolution was introduced merely for show and lacked genuine intent

Updated On: 04 Nov 2024 | 1:37 PM IST