Kumar Bahukhandi
Electorate in Kashmir Valley was quick to understand the political cues as articulated by the NC leadership
On the afternoon of October 10, 1996, Farooq Abdullah broke into tears as he was taking oath as the Chief Minister after seven years of militancy and political hibernation as a galaxy of political personalities of the country was present during his swearing-in ceremony. The oath of office and secrecy, which took place at Centaur Hotel on the banks of the picturesque Dal Lake, was administered by Governor Gen. K.V. Krishna Rao. Reviving politics in Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) in 1996 was seen as a national project, as thousands of political workers — particularly from the National Conference (NC) — lost their lives. The electoral activity was seen as critical to restore the faith of the people in the region, ravaged by militancy, in the democratic institutions of the country.
Almost 28 years later, in October, NC vice-president Omar Abdullah sworn in for the second time as Chief Minister of J&K . While the security situation of the region is nowhere as it was in 1996, the last six years of political changes and developments had been no less cataclysmic Now its up to Omar Abdullah to streamline the things and make J&K as its a heaven on earth .
