Omar Abdullah's first order: No green corridor, traffic stoppage when I travel

Omar Abdullah, who became the Chief Minister for the second time, said no stick waving or any other aggressive gestures should be used, and he asked his newly sworn in Cabinet ministers to follow suit.

In Short

• Omar Abdullah asks police to avoid traffic disruptions during his travel
• Encourages his ministers to adopt people-friendly conduct
• Omar Abdullah took oath as J&K Chief Minister for second time today

In his first decision after becoming the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah on Wednesday said he asked the police not to create any green corridor or stop traffic for him while he is travelling by road to avoid inconvenience to people.

In a tweet, Omar Abdullah, who became the Chief Minister for the second time, said no stick waving or any other aggressive gestures should be used, and asked his newly sworn in Cabinet ministers to follow suit.

"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 and the use of sirens is to be minimal. The use of any stick waving or aggressive gestures is to be totally avoided," he said.

"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 and not to inconvenience them," he further said.

In his first term as the Chief Minister from 2009 to 2014, Omar Abdullah had set an example by directing his cavalcade to follow traffic signals.

Omar Abdullah today took oath as the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir as the Union Territory got its first elected government after six years. Party MLA Surinder Singh Choudhary, who emerged as a giantkiller after defeating J&K BJP chief Ravinder Raina, was appointed Deputy Chief Minister, giving representation to Jammu in the new government.

The Congress opted out of the new Cabinet for now, citing its demand for statehood for Jammu and Kashmir, as promised by the Centre, and said it would continue to fight for it.

Five MLAs took oath today - Satish Sharma (Independent), Sakina Itoo, Javid Dar, Surinder Singh Choudhary and Javid Rana (all from the National Conference). Four Cabinet posts remain vacant and will be filled once the expansion takes place.

In the September-October Assembly polls held after a decade, the National Conference-Congress alliance won 48 of 90 Assembly seats. The National Conference emerged as the single largest party, winning 42 seats and the Congress got six.

(with inputs from PTI)