Omar Abdullah govt completes four years

It has been a roller coaster ride for Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah who today completed four years in office as he faced the worst street protests in two decades but put the state back on track with record tourist arrivals in 2011 and 2012.

The National Conference-Congress coalition government headed by Omar Abdullah took charge of the state following elections which took place after the Amarnath land row agitation in 2008 that had threatened to divide the state.

Omar, who became the youngest Chief Minister of the state, was seen as a ray of hope by the youth to bring it out of the quagmire that has dogged it since eruption of militancy.

Burgeoning unemployment rate and lack of avenues in private sector - thought to be the main reasons for the discontent among the youth - were seen as major problems to be tackled by the young leader.

However, widespread street protests over the death of two women in Shopian district of south Kashmir due to drowning was the first real test of the new government as allegations flew thick and fast that the women were raped before being murdered.

Although a CBI probe ruled out any foul play in the deaths, the issue had remained alive in public perception.

During a discussion in the assembly over the Shopian incident, Omar lost his cool and announced that he will submit his resignation to the Governor as an MLA from the opposition PDP alleged that the Chief Minister's name had figured in the infamous Srinagar sex scandal of 2006.

Omar tendered his resignation but it was not accepted by the Governor after Union Home Ministry clarified that his name did not figure in the list of the accused.

The biggest test of Omar government came in 2010 when protests against alleged fake encounter killing of three youths by army in Macchil area of the Kupwara district lead to a vicious cycle of violence that left over 120 youths dead in five months.

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