"Will try to meet expectations of people, work for them": J&K Minister Sakina Itoo

Srinagar, Oct 16: As National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah took oath as the first Chief Minister of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday, Sakina Itoo, the only woman minister in Omar Abdullah's cabinet said that they would try to meet the expectations of the people and work for them.

Sakina Itoo said, "It is a very challenging job right now because people have a lot of expectations. But we will try to meet those expectations and work for the people as much as possible."

She said that people voted in large numbers and took back their democratic rights.

She further said, "There are a lot of issues. The democratic rights of the people were snatched away in the last 10 years. The people took those rights back themselves by voting in such huge numbers. Their voice was suppressed, they were unheard, there was no development, there were so many difficulties in the power sector, health sector, price rise and unemployment have increased."

Her father, Wali Mohammad Itoo, a senior NC leader and former speaker of the Jammu and Kashmir legislative assembly, was assassinated by militants.

On Wednesday, L-G Manoj Saxena administered the oath of office to Abdullah and his council of ministers at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar.

J-K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha administered the oath of office to Omar Abdullah along with his council of ministers.

National Conference MLA from Mendhar Javed Ahmed Rana, Javid Ahmad Dar from Rafiabad, Sakina Itoo from DH Pora and Surinder Kumar Chowdhary were also administered oath by LG Sinha as ministers in Cabinet.

Independent MLA from Chhamb assembly seat Satish Sharma was given a place in Omar Abdullah-led cabinet.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were also present for the swearing-in ceremony.

Many INDIA Bloc leaders were present in the ceremony of the JKNC Vice President including Samajwadi Party Akhilesh Yadav, Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Prakash Karat, NCP-SCP MP Supriya Sule, DMK MP Kanimozhi, AAP leader Sanjay Singh and CPI leader D Raja.

PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti was also present during the ceremony. This came after the Congress-National Conference secured 48 seats, with the NC winning 42 and the Congress only six seats in the Jammu Kashmir assembly elections.