03/11/2025
J&K National Conference
Sher-e-Kashmir Bhawan, Jammu
Date: 3
rd Nov. 2025
Press Note
Sadhotra hails Jammu traders, lauds enthusiastic welcome for CM Omar
Abdullah on Darbar Move
Jammu, November 03: National Conference Additional General Secretary and former
Minister, Mr. Ajay Kumar Sadhotra, today lauded the Chamber of Commerce and
Industries alongside all Trader Associations of Jammu for organizing an unprecedented
and historic welcome for Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on the occasion of the
restoration and opening of the Darbar Move in the winter capital.
In a statement, Mr. Sadhotra said the enthusiastic participation of the trade bodies and
people in general, who turned out in large numbers to greet the Chief Minister, is a
testimony to the overwhelming sense of relief and pride felt across Jammu over the
decision to restore the century-old tradition. He noted that the rally, which took the Chief
Minister in a grand procession from his official residence at Wazarat Road via Shaheedi
Chowk to Shalimar through the iconic Raghunath Bazar, was not just a political gesture
but a celebration of Jammu’s identity and role in the governance fabric of Jammu and
Kashmir.
“The warm reception given by the traders and citizens of Jammu reflects their longstanding cultural and emotional connection with the Darbar Move tradition started by
Dogra Maharaja Ranbir Singhji in 1872 to ensure administrative presence in both the
regions. This is not mere symbolism; this is the reclamation of a heritage that binds
regions, strengthens governance, and reinforces unity,” Mr. Sadhotra said.
He did not mince words in criticizing the BJP’s “double engine” government for arbitrarily
discontinuing the Darbar Move, calling it a deliberate attempt to trample the historical
bonds between the Jammu region and the Kashmir Valley.
“The BJP’s move to terminate this long-practiced institution was not just a blow to
administrative continuity it was an affront to the wisdom and vision of Maharaja Ranbir
Singh, who had sagaciously introduced this practice more to bring cultural coherence and
administrative proximity between the regions,” he asserted.
Mr Sadhotra said that the National Conference, under the leadership of Dr. Farooq
Abdullah and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, has fulfilled the deep-rooted aspiration of
the people of Jammu by ensuring the revival of the Darbar Move. He said this effort
reflects the party’s consistent commitment to regional harmony, administrative equity,
and the protection of Jammu and Kashmir’s pluralistic identity.This revival is a befitting reply to the divisive politics of the BJP, which sought to erase
historical traditions in the quest for polarisation. The National Conference has once again
demonstrated its resolve to protect the people’s heritage and restore their rightful place
in the administrative framework,” Mr. Sadhotra declared.
He emphasized that the restoration of the Darbar Move will go a long way in
strengthening the bonds of unity and mutual respect between the people of Jammu and
the Kashmir Valley. This decision is not about geography; it is about respecting legacy,
emotional coherence, and the democratic rights of the people across regions., he added.
Mr. Sadhotra expressed confidence that this decision will reinvigorate stakeholder
confidence in Jammu’s economic and political relevance, which is cherished agenda of
National Conference. He urged the people to rise above political divisions and continue
to safeguard the socio-cultural ethos of the erstwhile state, which has always been a
beacon of diversity, resilience, and inclusive governance.
“This is a proud moment for Jammu. The National Conference has once again proved
that it stands shoulder to shoulder with the people in defending their political dignity
and historical identity,” he said, extending gratitude to the traders’ bodies, youth, and
general public for making the opening of Darbar Move a memorable public event.
