Omar Abdullah offers ‘fatiha’ at grandparents’ graves - Greater Kashmir

Srinagar, Oct 16: Before taking oath as chief minister, Omar Abdullah, this morning offered “fatiha” at the graves of his grandparents, Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah and Begum Akbar Jehan.

He also offered  floral tributes to them. Later talking to media persons, he said, “We have to give people hope that this is their government and they will be heard. They were not being heard for the last six years.”

ANI adds: Speaking after he offered prayers Omar Abdullah said his government has a lot to do for the people of the region.

“We have a lot to do. We have to give people the hope that this is their government and they will be heard. They were not being heard for the last 5-6 years. It will be our responsibility to listen to them and act on it,.” he said

“I have some strange distinctions. I was the last chief minister to serve a full six-year term. Now I’ll be the first chief minister of the Union territory of J&K. The last distinction, as in the one of serving six years, I’m quite happy about…I hope that the status of a union territory is a temporary one. We look forward to working in cooperation with government of India to resolve the people’s problems and the best way to do that would be to start by restoring statehood to J&K, ” he added.