Jammu, Nov 3: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said his government’s decision to revive the age-old ‘Darbar Move’ tradition aims to bridge the emotional and regional divide between Jammu and Srinagar, asserting that some matters “should not be weighed in money.”
The ‘Darbar Move’, a 150-year-old practice started by the Dogra rulers, involves the biannual shifting of the Civil Secretariat and other government offices between the two capitals — to Jammu during winter and Srinagar in summer. The move offices closed in Srinagar on October 30 and 31 and reopened in Jammu on Monday for the next six months.
Addressing reporters, Abdullah said, “Some people always try to create a wedge between Jammu and Srinagar and rake up ‘Jammu versus Kashmir’ for political advantage. We want to remove that wedge and bring the two regions closer.”
The tradition had been halted in 2021 by then Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, citing the complete transition to e-office and potential annual savings of ₹200 crore. However, the decision drew sharp criticism, especially from Jammu’s business community, which said the stoppage had hurt trade and the historic bond between the regions.
Fulfilling his election promise, Abdullah revived the Darbar Move on October 16, bringing widespread cheer among Jammu residents. “You might have seen how important this decision was for Jammu. My journey from my official residence to the Secretariat, which usually takes five minutes, took an hour today because people were on the streets showering love,” he said.
The Chief Minister added that the revival would also boost Jammu’s economy while reinforcing unity. “The Darbar Move was stopped to save money, but everything should not be weighed in money. This practice carries sentiment, tradition, and unity. By stopping it, the bond between the two regions weakened — we are trying to correct that wrong,” Abdullah said.
He also assured that the government is making arrangements for employee accommodation and logistics, with a special team led by Additional Chief Secretary Shaleen Kabra overseeing the process. “It will take a few days to streamline everything,” he said, expressing confidence that “things will keep changing for the better.” (Agencies)
