Kashmir Digits

Former Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad criticised government’s decision in scrapping the age old tradition of Darbar Move saying that it mainly hurt the economy of Jammu.

Azad was addressing party delegates at Jammu in the presence of the former Congress party president Rahul Gandhi. Azad said “Darbar Move was not necessary for Kashmir. It was necessary for Jammu to bolster its economy. It was not brought by Pandit Nehru or Indira Gandhi. It was introduced by late Maharaja with the twin objective of “cultural integration” of two distant regions and enhance economic activity.”

But all these good moves were scuttled by the present regime and the people were suffering for its wrong, discriminatory moves.

He took jibes at government’s “Smart Jammu city” claims, saying “many in Jammu applauded when BJP-PDP coalition had come to power seven years ago. They anticipated a revolution in the state vis-a-vis the indices of development. Yes revolution occurred but it was not positive revolution. It was negative revolution.” 

He profusely appreciated the spirit of communal harmony, brotherhood and feeling of “sharing” always displayed by the inhabitants of Jammu.

“They displayed this gesture although they had to share their resources. But this also helped in boosting the economy of the region. As the foot-fall is directly linked to the growth of economy,” Azad said.