Srinagar: The revival of the bi-annual ‘Darbar Move’ by chief minister Omar Abdullah-led government has stirred hopes in Jammu region, which has gone through a period of economic downturn after the 150-year-old practice was stopped in 2021 by the J&K administration.“We had promised to the people that the Darbar Move practice would be restored,” Abdullah said during a press conference in Jammu on Thursday (October 17) after completing a year in office.“The cabinet decided on restoration and the file was sent to the LG saheb who signed and returned it. Today I have put down my signature on the government file for restoration of the full Darbar Move,” he said.Later, the general administration department, while referring to the cabinet decision, issued an order (1357-JK GAD of 2025) announcing the schedule for the closure of government offices in the summer capital Srinagar and their opening in winter capital Jammu.The order directed 39 departments, including the chief minister’s secretariat and all departments of the civil secretariat to move to the winter capital “in full” while 49 departments will move “in camp” with “only 33 percent of the staff strength .. or 10 officials, whichever is minimum”.Welcoming the decision, Jammu chamber of commerce and industry president Arun Gupta said, “If the decision restores the Darbar Move to its original form, then the traders, industrialists and general public in Jammu will be very happy.”J&K lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha-led administration had defended its decision to abolish the 150-year-old practice in 2021, arguing that it saved Rs 200 crore of public funds.However, the decision had not gone down well in Kashmir and particularly in Jammu, a stronghold of the Bhartiya Janta Party, where the traders, who drive the region’s political narrative, had openly voiced their resentment.The reversal of Sinha’s decision by the elected government is widely expected to stimulate economic activity especially in Jammu, also known as the city of temples which used to be thronged by thousands of Kashmiri families during winters.A garments store owner in Jammu’s Raghunath Bazar told The Wire over phone that the 2021 decision to end the practice was never welcomed by people of Jammu.“It was a poor decision from the beginning and it is good that the government has done away with it now. Besides boosting trade, the Darbar Move practice also created social bonds between people of Kashmir and Jammu,” he said, requesting anonymity.Abdullah also regretted the decision while targeting the saffron party for allegedly destroying the heritage of J&K.“Please tell me why it was closed? ” he asked, “It was a tradition since before 1947. We face taunts that we don’t understand J&K’s history and that we don’t respect our great personalities when it is the BJP which has played the main role in the destruction of our heritage”.The restoration of Darbar Move comes as the first-elected government of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir completed one year in office earlier this week.The move is being viewed as a major policy decision by the elected government to undo the changes brought about by the reading down of Article 370 in 2019 which has also got the approval of the LG’s office.The decision had figured on the ruling National Conference list of subsidiary promises made in its J&K assembly election manifesto 2024.Abdullah, who spoke with reporters at Sher-e-Kashmir Bhavan in Jammu, defended his government, arguing that a year in office was too little to pass a judgement on its performance.“We have made a beginning. We made political promises and brought a resolution on special status in the assembly and cabinet gave clearance for statehood restoration,” he said, adding that the government will bring out a report card on its performance at the end of its term.Abdullah said that his government had hoped that the Union government would fulfil its promise of restoring the statehood of Jammu and Kashmir which was made to the parliament and the Supreme Court.“If it hasn’t happened, that doesn’t mean we will stop trying. All the issues of J&K lie in restoration of statehood,” he said.Pressed on the issue, he remarked, “What we have to do in the future doesn’t need mentioning here today. But if such a situation arises (statehood is not restored), we will come here again and hold another press conference? Presently, the situation isn’t so grave”.Abdullah has been seeking statehood for J&K even since he was sworn into office in October last year.Earlier this year, J&K’s deputy chief minister Surinder Choudhary alleged that the LG’s office was interfering in the day-to-day functioning of various departments.The Union government has so far remained non-committal on the question of statehood.