In a significant policy decision marking one year of his government, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday announced the revival of the pre-Independence-era tradition of the biannual ‘Durbar Move’, under which government offices shift to Srinagar in summer and Jammu in winter.
The practice, a hallmark of Jammu and Kashmir’s administrative culture since 1872 when it was introduced by the Dogra ruler Maharaja Gulab Singh, had been discontinued in 2021 by Lt Governor Manoj Sinha following the abrogation of Article 370 and the region’s reorganisation into a Union Territory.
Addressing a press conference in Jammu to mark the completion of one year of his government, the Chief Minister said that the cabinet had given its nod for the revival of the century-old practice. “Subsequently, the file was sent to the Lieutenant Governor and has been approved. The government is now reviving the practice of full-fledged ‘Durbar Move’,” he said.
Omar said that the BJP played a crucial role in dismantling the tradition initiated by the Dogra rulers. However, the people in Jammu blessed the BJP by giving it 28 seats in the legislative assembly.
“The practice of ‘Durbar Move’ was stopped by the BJP, which claims to be the well-wisher of the people of Jammu, and is being restored by us, who were mocked by them as an anti-Jammu party. The people of the Jammu region were marginalised by the BJP,” Omar said.
Traders of Jammu had also requested Omar to restore the ‘Durbar Move’ as its discontinuance had badly hit their trade.
He also announced that the cabinet has accepted the report of the Reservation Sub-Committee that was headed by the Chief Secretary to rationalise reservation in the UT.
Asserting that he was hopeful of the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, Omar urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to fulfil his promise made to the people of the Union Territory.
“We were hopeful that the Centre would fulfil its promise to restore statehood to J&K in the first year of our government, but it has not happened. I request the Prime Minister and his team to fulfil the promise made in the Parliament and the Supreme Court by restoring statehood,” Omar said.
Omar said that while opposition parties and the media were questioning him on fulfilment of poll promises, they should first ask the BJP why it delayed implementing its promise of statehood. The BJP had said that the statehood of J&K would come from Delhi, and it is time for the media to direct the questions to it.
Replying to a question, Omar said he has no intention of forging a backdoor tie-up with the BJP for the restoration of statehood. “If they are trying to pressurise me to join hands with the BJP for the restoration of statehood, it will never happen,” he asserted.
Omar said that he was gradually implementing the poll promises made by his National Conference. His government has still four years in hand, and one should not expect fulfilment of all poll promises within the first six months or a year.
He reiterated that the political parties abstaining from the Rajya Sabha polls would be directly helping the BJP. Talks are on with Congress for the by-polls for two assembly seats, he added.