Dressed in a Pathani suit, Omar was greeted by dozens of his staff who had lined up at the secretariat since morning. The 39-year-old Chief Minister interacted with his staff and began his work by signing on some files.
He also held his usual morning meeting with his cabinet colleagues and later chaired a cabinet meeting. Speaking to the media, he said, "I had to take a difficult decision in order to clear not only my own name but also to establish some respectability for politics and politicians in the state of Jammu and Kashmir."
He stressed that he had left the assembly incident behind him as "I am not the one to dwell on the past. I look towards the future. I have never conducted myself or my politics with a view to extracting revenge and therefore what is done is done."
He said, "We have come to fulfill the aspirations of the people of the state rather than fight among ourselves. I believe in the highest political ethics, upright character and moral principles and my conviction is that only a person with unblemished character has the moral right to hold such positions from where he can serve people with full devotion and sincerity."
Omar said he firmly believes that "those who resort to mud-slinging get themselves exposed and the event that the state witnessed recently has not only proved my belief but has strengthened it further."
He said the elected representatives should address public grievances instead of fighting among themselves as "we have not been voted for this frequent disruptions."
The Governor on Thursday rejected Omar's resignation saying there was no truth over the allegations levelled against him in the assembly by PDP leader Muzzafar Hussain Beigh. The Governor had also advised Omar to "most vigorously devote himself to discharging responsibilities of Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir."
