Jammu: National Conference president and former Chief Minister Dr. Farooq Abdullah today underscored Jammu and Kashmir’s integral position within India, firmly stating that the region will always remain the “crown of India.” During a visit to Raghunath Bazaar, he reaffirmed that Pakistan’s attempts to influence Jammu and Kashmir have consistently failed.
Dr. Abdullah emphasized the need to combat terrorism as the region has done over the years, encouraging citizens not to fear but to confront this challenge head-on. “Those who wanted us to join Pakistan have failed,” he stated, alluding to separatist groups in the Kashmir Valley.
Expressing optimism in the new Government, he voiced his belief that Jammu and Kashmir will regain a developmental path that elevates it to new heights. However, he lamented the halting of the “Darbar Move” in 2022, a bi-annual administrative practice started by the Maharajas where the Government would shift between Srinagar and Jammu every six months.
According to Dr. Abdullah, the Darbar Move was a significant tradition, fostering unity between the two regions, and its revival could restore the former glory of Raghunath Bazaar.
Reflecting on his past, Dr. Abdullah recalled accompanying his father, Sheikh Abdullah, to the market when he was the Prime Minister of J&K. He praised the Maharaja for initiating the Darbar Move, a practice he believes should be reinstated to strengthen regional brotherhood.
Pointing out infrastructure issues, he noted that the Smart City project has left many areas with poorly maintained roads and inadequate lighting, highlighting the need for urgent improvements.
Dr. Abdullah hopes for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s Statehood, with local officers appointed to high-level postings. He reminisced about the region’s past prosperity, stating, “This was the most progressive State in the country,” and expressed a determination to regain that status after a challenging five years. Referring to former Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad’s 2019 remarks comparing J&K to Gujarat, he emphasized the importance of revitalizing the region.
Dr. Abdullah stressed India’s unity through diversity, advocating for strengthened brotherhood across religions and languages, as he believes this unity is essential for the nation’s future. “We are all Indians and should stand united,” he said, warning that without unity, “there will be no India.”
