‘Solution to all issues faced by J&K lies in Statehood’
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Oct 16: Four years after centuries old practice of bi-annual Darbar Move was stopped, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today announced its revival saying the decision to this effect taken by the UT Cabinet earlier has also been signed by the Lieutenant Governor.
In another significant announcement, Omar said the Cabinet Sub Committee (CSC) report on Reservation has been cleared by the Cabinet and will be referred to the LG soon for approval.
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Restoration of Darbar Move and changes in reservation policy were two major promises made by the National Conference with the people during the elections and after coming back to the power in October last year.
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Practice of Darbar Move was done away with in 2021 by the LG administration on the ground of burden on the State exchequer mainly caused by shifting of record to and fro Srinagar, the twin capital cities of Jammu and Kashmir, after every six months. However, the Civil Secretariat has now switched over to e-file system.
“I have signed the official file today and the order will be issued shortly. Old tradition of the Darbar Move is being restored,” Omar told the reporters here today on the completion of one-year of his Government.
He said the Cabinet took the decision earlier on restoration of bi-annual Darbar Move practice. The file was sent to the LG and he has signed and returned it,” Omar said, adding that the promise made to the people has been fulfilled.
As per the past practice, the Civil secretariat functioned for six months in Srinagar (May-October) and six months in Jammu (November-April).
The Darbar Move traces its origins to 1872 under Maharaja Ranbir Singh, the Dogra ruler who began transferring the royal court between Srinagar and Jammu to escape the extreme weather in both regions.
“Why was the Darbar Move stopped? It had been a long-standing tradition. Those who used to accuse us of not understanding the history of Jammu and Kashmir before 1947, and of not respecting the great personalities of the region – let it be known that no one has damaged their legacy more than the BJP,” Omar said
However, the traders of Jammu had strongly resented the decision of bringing the Darbar Move practice to an end citing losses.
Omar said that in yesterday’s Cabinet meeting, the Cabinet Sub Committee on Reservation submitted its final report. The Cabinet has approved the report, he added.
“The Social Welfare Department has been asked to prepare a Cabinet memo, which will be sent to the Cabinet Ministers for necessary actions and subsequently to the Lieutenant Governor for approval. We hope the process will be completed in the next 3-4 days,” the Chief Minister said.
Omar Government had set up the CSC comprising Health & Medical Education and Education Minister Sakina Itoo, PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control and Forests Minister Javed Rana and Transport Minister Satish Sharma on December 11, 2024 following resentment among the general category candidates that their share in the Government jobs has been reduced to just 30 percent.
Omar said solution to all issues faced by Jammu and Kashmir lies in the restoration of Statehood and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to fulfill his promise made to the people of the UT.
“We were hopeful that the Centre would fulfill its promise to restore Statehood (to J-K) in the first year of our Government, but it has not happened,” Omar said.
He urged the Modi Government to fulfill its promise made to the people of J&K from the floor of Parliament and the Supreme Court.
“Heading a Government in a UT is a different experience. We were hoping that the Centre would fulfill its promise on Statehood, but it has not happened yet. But we will not back down from our efforts.
Taking dig at the BJP for its failure to deliver on a key election promise on Statehood to the people of J-K, he asked: “Why it has not been fulfilled”?
Omar also addressed speculation that the delay in restoring Statehood was a tactic to pressure his Government into a back-door alliance with the BJP.
It will be a very sad thing if the people of J-K are deprived of Statehood only because the BJP could not form the Government. If people wanted a BJP Government, they would have made a BJP Government in 2024. We have no intention of allowing the BJP from the back door,” he said.
Omar pointed out that the BJP never said in the Supreme Court or in Parliament that they will give Statehood only when the Chief Minister is from BJP. They only talked about a three-step process – delimitation, election, and statehood. No ifs, no buts, he asserted.
Responding to a question on NC’s strategy if the Centre doesn’t restore Statehood, Abdullah said he is hopeful of early restoration of the same. “I am not the one who will resort to threats to gain anything. I am still hoping that without threatening, without spoiling the situation in J-K, the promises that have been made to the people of J-K will be fulfilled,” he said.
Asked about Mehbooba Mufti’s statement over PDP’s support to NC candidate in Rajya Sabha elections, the Chief Minister said, NC chief Dr Farooq Abdullah talked to her and sought party’s support to fight against BJP in the elections.
“If the vote is not cast in our favour, then it will benefit BJP and abstaining from it is also akin to supporting BJP. However, as far as her conditions are concerned, it is the Speaker, who has to decide on the bills. Nobody other than the Speaker can decide over it. Once it comes in the Assembly, we will have no issues to create hurdles on it,” he said
On regularization of daily wagers, Omar said the Government has already started the work in this regard and only today, the Education department has regularized 860 CPWs, who were earlier working on meager remuneration.
“After taking over the reins of the Government one year ago, we are making all out efforts to improve the lives of the people by speeding up developmental works. We have made a start. Be it the political promises we made to the people to bring a resolution in the Assembly on the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, or to get a resolution approved in the Cabinet for the restoration of Statehood — we did both things,” he said.
Referring to the demand of the opposition parties to make public the NC Government’s one year report card, the CM said when his party sought votes from people, it emphasized that the Government will last not just for six months or one year, but for a full five-year term.
“Like I said in the Assembly, if you have to judge us on the basis of our manifesto, do it after the Government completes its full five-year term because no Government fulfils all its promises in six months or one year,” he said.
The Government is “absolutely committed” to the promises made to the people and it will submit a report card after completing five years in office, he added.
Regarding support from the bureaucrats, he said it would not have been possible for the Government to perform without the support of these officers. However, he said, “Not all officers are the same; some are willing to work and they do, while others are not, and they choose not to.”
“The talks with Congress are going on over by-election on Nagrota and Budgam seats, where by-polls are due to be held on November 11. We are ready to give Congress Nagrota seat if they have any better candidate,” he added.
About the Government’s measures post floods in Jammu and Kashmir, Omar said that through SDRF and CM Relief Fund, the Government has done everything that was possible according to the guidelines.
On the issue of reconstruction and other things, he said, the Centre has sent teams, which assessed the situation.
“We are expecting a comprehensive package for J&K to repair the losses as more than 300 roads got damaged, many bridges collapsed, crops and houses got damaged,” the CM said.
Omar also said that the Government is in the process of ensuring 5 marlas land for the people under the existing Government scheme, for those who lost their houses along with the land.
“The process is on and we expect that the papers will reach the cabinet soon and those who lost the land will get 5 Marlas land and further assistance for reconstruction of the houses,” Omar said.
Moreover, he said the Government has sought assistance from the Centre to conduct a survey to identify the crowd base areas prone to cloudbursts and assess the situation here keeping in view topography, climate and other things so that the Government can stay prepared for the future.
The Chief Minister refrained from commenting on his relationship with the LG, saying, “We are working for the betterment of Jammu and Kashmir.”
On a question, Omar said, “I will not comment on the relationship between the Lieutenant Governor and the Government. You should not assume that the relationship is not good. We are working, and we are working for the betterment of Jammu and Kashmir.”
Replying to another question about his relationship with officers, he said the cooperation of officers is essential for fulfilling any Government’s agenda.
“As far as officers are concerned, looking at what we have accomplished, would it have been possible if we were not working with those officers? The cooperation of officials is essential for fulfilling any Government’s agenda,” he said.
Omar further said that just as the five fingers of a hand are not equal, not everyone in any Government is the same. “This is not just about Jammu and Kashmir; in any state of the country, you won’t find all officers equally active. Most officers are good and hardworking, but here and there you will find one or two who do not want to work. The same situation exists here.”
Speaking about development in Jammu, the Chief Minister said the Government is focusing on boosting tourism in Jammu with regards to pilgrims of Mata Vaishno Devi shrine, developing the artificial lake area, and promoting border tourism.
“Our effort is to create facilities so that pilgrims who visit for darshan can also stay as tourists. If even 15-20 per cent of the devotees visit additional destinations, it will give a major boost to Jammu’s economy,” he said.
Dismissing concerns over prepaid electricity meters, he said that a prepaid meter is not privatisation. “When you don’t mind using a prepaid mobile, why object to a prepaid electricity meter? These meters are being installed across Jammu and Kashmir. Even my relatives use them without any issue.”
Responding to criticism from the Opposition, Omar quipped that “the deputy Chief Minister has given him (leader of opposition) a good name – the ‘Opposition Party’. The Opposition’s job is to oppose. That is why I am the Minister, and they are the Opposition. My job is to work, theirs is to oppose.”
When asked to describe his one year in office in a single word, the Chief Minister said it was not his job to provide a headline. “You cannot sum up a Government in one word. I leave it to you to judge,” he said.
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