Those who ended ‘Darbar Move’ emotionally divided J&K: CM Omar

Srinagar, Nov 1: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday questioned the Lieutenant Governor’s administration for halting the century-old Darbar Move, saying the decision had deeply hurt Jammu and Kashmir’s regional balance and administrative unity. Addressing a large public gathering in Srinagar, Omar reminded people that it was his government which had restored the biannual practice, describing it as a “bridge of understanding between Jammu and Srinagar.”

“What was the compulsion to close the Darbar Move?” Omar asked. “This tradition is not the heritage of Sheikh Abdullah or mine. It existed before 1947, even before independence. When I saw that injustice had been done to Jammu city, I re-established the Darbar Move and removed that injustice.”

The Chief Minister said that those who scrapped the Darbar Move “divided the regions emotionally and economically.” “The Darbar Move symbolised unity, not politics,” he said. “It ensured that both capitals shared administrative importance and development. By ending it, they broke that bond.”

Omar made it clear that his decision to restore the Darbar Move was based on fairness, not political gain. “If I had to decide on the basis of religion or region, I would not have opened my office in Jammu — I didn’t even win elections from there,” he said. “But I did so because I believe in justice, not in division.”

Turning his attention to Srinagar’s developmental stagnation, Omar accused successive governments of neglect. “After 2015, there were injustices and neglect. If I start counting, we will be here all day,” he said. “Let us find out which new project Srinagar got after January 2015 — in beautification, infrastructure, traffic management, or flood control. There is nothing. Everything stopped where it was in 2014.”

He cited several examples to back his point. “The bridge we started in 2011 took 15 years to complete because work stopped after 2014. Before that, my government had launched a project to reduce traffic pressure on the Boulevard, but it remained only on paper after we left,” he said.

Highlighting recent initiatives under his government, Omar said, “The Gul-e-Dawood Garden — the Chrysanthemum Garden — was completed in just nine months. Couldn’t this have been done in the last nine years? In twenty years, only two gardens were built — the Tulip Garden by Azad Sahib, and now the Gul-e-Dawood Garden by us.”

On the city’s housing shortage, the Chief Minister said, “In one house, three to five families live together. After decades, a new housing colony has been completed, and work at Bemina will begin soon for the economically weaker sections.”

Omar said his administration was planning for vertical expansion to address limited land availability. “We can’t create new land like Dubai or Muscat,” he remarked. “We will have to move towards eight- or ten-floor apartments to reduce congestion.”

He underlined the importance of better connectivity within Srinagar. “It is our experience — the more bridges we make on the river Jhelum, the more we ease traffic congestion,” he said. “The bridge near the Convent School, which was converted into a footbridge, will be revived as a two-level bridge — one for pedestrians, one for vehicles.”

Outlining plans for easing tourist traffic on Boulevard Road, Omar announced that his government was exploring the construction of a tunnel. “There are hotels, shops, and houseboats — we can’t demolish them. So, one tube of traffic will go outside, and one through a tunnel under the mountain,” he said. “By doing this, we can end the traffic rush. I have told the Deputy Chief Minister to prepare an estimate. We will seek funds in Delhi if we have to — but we’ll make it happen.”

Raising the issue of flood preparedness, Omar questioned the utilisation of funds sanctioned after the 2014 floods. “Where is the money for dredging the Jhelum and the flood channel?” he asked. “Did dredging happen under the PDP-BJP government? Who was the minister then? Today, they raise fingers at my Deputy Chief Minister — but who ate that money meant for the Wular project? Open the files and show the truth.”

Omar said the government owed an explanation to the people for what happened to the World Bank and flood relief funds. “Tell us, where did the money go? Who siphoned it?” he asked. “This year, just two days of rain created a flood scare. In 2014, floods came after seven days of rain. We were saved only because Allah stopped the rain. What has been done all these years for Srinagar city, which continues to be neglected?”

The Chief Minister said his government worked without bias or discrimination. “It is we who don’t look at religion or region. We work for justice and equality,” he said.

Emphasising his government’s welfare focus, Omar said, “We knew our sisters faced hardship in transport, so we provided free travel for women in government buses. We don’t make people wait five years — we work every day to fulfil our promises.”

Concluding his speech with a message of determination, Omar said, “Our intentions are right, and our eyes are on God. Those whose intentions are pure are never afraid of obstacles. We will work tirelessly to rebuild Srinagar, restore Jammu’s pride, and strengthen the unity that the Darbar Move represents.”