Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary on Saturday criticized the BJP, questioning its commitment to the region. He highlighted that despite being in power for a decade, the BJP failed to reinstate the Darbar Move, a long-standing tradition in J&K.
“We always give equal importance to both Jammu and Kashmir. Why didn’t they (BJP) implement the Darbar Move in J-K in the last 10 years? The National Conference has always done justice with Jammu,” Choudhary told reporters.
The Darbar Move, a biannual practice dating back to Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s era, involves the shifting of government offices between Jammu and Srinagar. From May to October, the administration operates in Srinagar, and for the remaining six months, it functions in Jammu. This tradition has been seen as a means to maintain regional balance and boost local economies.
“If the Darbar Move had happened, businesses in Jammu would have benefited greatly. The Jammu region got justice during the previous National Conference governments. The BJP leaders now claim Jammu is being discriminated against, but it is just for grabbing headlines,” Choudhary added.
The National Conference has reiterated its commitment to restoring the Darbar Move. In December 2024, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah assured that the tradition would be reinstated.
“I don’t understand why this issue did not come up during the elections. The issue of the Darbar Move started to emerge only after the elections. However, we have repeatedly assured in meetings that the Darbar Move will be restored,” Omar Abdullah stated in December.
On December 9, 2024, Abdullah emphasized the significance of the practice for Jammu’s vibrancy. “The hallmark of Jammu City was the biannual Darbar Move. For six months, people from Srinagar would work here, creating a lively environment. It fostered interaction between people from both sides of the mountains, whether at Wave Mall, Residency Road, or Gole Market. I assure you that we will resume the Darbar Move in the future. Unfortunately, time constraints prevented us from doing so this time.”
The Darbar Move was deferred in April 2021 for the first time in history due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and it has not been restored since.