It’s 8:45 am on Jammu’s Wazarat Road, and people line the streets with bouquets, garlands, and drums. As, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah steps out of his official residence and walks to Shaheedi Chowk, surprising those gathered there, the drums grow louder and chants of “Darbar Move koun laya; Omar laya, Omar laya (Who restored Darbar Move; Omar did)” break out.
J&K’s secretariat is reopening in Jammu after the first Darbar Move — the 150-year-old biannual shift of the secretariat and government offices — in four years. For Omar, the reception is significant: it’s the first time an NC leader has received such a rousing welcome in the BJP strongholds of Raghunath Bazar, City Chowk and Shalamar Road.
Some political observers see the restoration of the Darbar Move as a “masterstroke”, signalling Omar’s resolve to fulfil election promises – especially reclaiming what J&K lost with the abrogation of Article 370.
Responding to the rousing reception for Omar, National Conference president and former J&K chief minister Farooq Abdullah said: “Those who wanted to divide Jammu and Kashmir have failed.”
The Chief Minister himself said he hopes the decision to reinstate the Darbar Move will “bridge the gap between two capitals cities of J&K.”
“You might have come to know this morning how important it (decision) was, especially for Jammu,” he told reporters.
