Omar Abdullah

Omar Abdullah became the youngest Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir in 2009. He is currently the Vice President of the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC). He was also a member of parliament from Srinagar and served as a Cabinet Minister in Vajpayee's administration.

Born on March 10, 1970, in Rochford, Essex, U.K., to a British mother, Omar comes from a prominent Kashmiri Muslim political family. His grandfather, Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah, known as the "Lion of Kashmir," founded the JKNC and served as prime minister (1948–53) and later as chief minister (1975–82) of Jammu and Kashmir. Omar’s father, Farooq Abdullah, served as the state’s chief minister three times between 1982 and 2002.

Abdullah's privileged background helped him quickly rise in politics. In 1998, at age 28, he was elected to the Lok Sabha (lower house of the Indian parliament) as a member of the JKNC. He was reelected the following year and became a minister in the Commerce and Industry Ministry in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government. In 2001, he was named Minister of External Affairs, becoming the youngest person to hold that position. However, he resigned in December 2002 to focus on the JKNC’s preparations for the state assembly elections.

In June 2002, Abdullah became president of the JKNC, succeeding his father, and held the position until 2009. His political career at the state level began poorly: in the 2002 elections, the ruling JKNC lost more than half of its 57 assembly seats from 1996. Omar also lost his seat to a candidate from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). The PDP, along with the Congress Party and smaller parties, formed a coalition government. Despite these setbacks, Omar was reelected to the Lok Sabha in 2004.

In the 2008 state assembly elections, Omar Abdullah won his constituency, and the JKNC, with 28 seats and the support of the Congress Party, formed the new government in 2009. At 38, Omar became the youngest Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir. He resigned as president of the JKNC, and his father replaced him.

As Chief Minister, Omar focused on developing infrastructure, promoting tourism, and improving education in the state. He also worked to improve relations between India and Pakistan and supported a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Kashmir.

In July 2009, Abdullah was accused by the opposition PDP of being involved in a 2006 sex scandal where underage girls were forced into prostitution with the help of public officials. He offered to resign, but the state’s governor rejected his resignation.

During his tenure as Chief Minister, Abdullah faced other challenges, including the 2010 Kashmir unrest, which involved widespread protests and violence. He was criticised for his handling of the situation. In addition to this, he faced allegations of human rights violations by security forces fighting separatist militants in the state.

Abdullah criticised these abuses and repeatedly called for the powers of the army to be reduced and for the repeal of the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), which allows such actions.

Although Omar Abdullah won one of the two seats he contested in the 2014 state legislative elections, the JKNC lost its majority to the PDP. He announced his resignation as Chief Minister in late December and stepped down in early January 2015.

Omar continued to support Jammu and Kashmir’s presence within the Indian union, a stance long held by his family. He also worked towards resolving the dispute between India and Pakistan over the Kashmir region, including meeting with Pakistan's then-president Pervez Musharraf in 2006. He believed that granting autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir would strengthen its bond with India.

In August 2019, Abdullah, his father, and other political leaders in Jammu and Kashmir were placed under house arrest when the Indian government revoked the state’s autonomy and reorganised it into two union territories. Abdullah refused to agree to refrain from political activity and remained under detention beyond October. In February 2020, he was formally charged as a potential public disturbance but was released in late March.

Abdullah has been involved in many social and cultural initiatives in Jammu and Kashmir. He founded the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association, which promotes cricket in the state. He is also the Chairperson of the Nawa-i-Subh Charitable Trust, a Founder Member of the Rahat Charitable Trust, and the President of the J&K River Runners Association and the J&K Table Tennis Association. Additionally, he is a member of the Delhi Gymkhana Club, Delhi Golf Club, and Royal Springs Golf Club in Srinagar.

Omar has also worked to develop the state's film industry and promote its rich cultural heritage. He is especially interested in finding long-term solutions to unemployment among the youth in Jammu and Kashmir.

Beyond his political and social work, Omar enjoys playing tennis, skiing, scuba diving, and motocross biking.

On a personal note, Omar married Payal Abdullah, and they have two sons, but they later separated. His net worth is Rs. 65,69,000.