Srinagar, Oct 25 (KNS): Awami Ittehad Party Chief and Member of Parliament, Engineer Rashid, staged a protest outside the Civil Secretariat in Srinagar, demanding the restoration of the Darbar Move, a biannual tradition that saw Jammu and Srinagar alternate as the seasonal capital of Jammu and Kashmir.

The protest aimed to highlight the administrative confusion and inconvenience faced by residents since the move was suspended.

“We used to have two capitals—Jammu in the winter and Srinagar in the summer. Now, neither city holds that status. People don’t know where to go, whether their file is in Jammu or Kashmir,” Engineer Rashid stated.

He called on Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to fulfill his promise to resolve the issue, adding, “We demand either the restoration of the Darbar Move or that Srinagar be made the permanent capital.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelThe best solution would be to declare Srinagar as the capital,” he said according to KNS correspondent.

The Darbar Move, a 150-year-old tradition, allowed government offices to relocate between Jammu and Srinagar, ensuring equal access to administrative services across regions. However, following its suspension, there have been concerns about administrative disconnect and inefficiency.

The administration of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha defended the decision to halt the Darbar Move, citing the significant financial burden and logistical challenges involved. The twice-yearly move, officials said, entailed an annual expenditure of around Rs 200 crore and substantial disruption to government operations. (KNS)