Anil Kumar
Srinagar, Jan 16: Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary on Friday strongly rejected allegations that the Omar Abdullah-led government is anti-Jammu, asserting that the reopening of the Darbar Move itself proves the government’s commitment to the region.
Talking to reporters, Surinder Choudhary said if former chief minister Omar Abdullah had been anti-Jammu, there would have been no question of reviving the Darbar Move.
“If Omar sahib was anti-Jammu, why would we reopen the Darbar Move,” Choudhary said, adding that the historic practice was closed during the BJP’s tenure and later restored by the National Conference government.
Referring to Ladakh, the Deputy Chief Minister as per the news agency Kashmir News Trust said the region is now “wailing” after being made a Union Territory, cautioning that similar demands could harm Jammu as well. He alleged that some selected people are hell-bent on ruining Jammu by raising the demand for a separate statehood.
Choudhary questioned the silence of these groups when the Darbar Move was shut down earlier. “Why were they silent when the Darbar Move was closed? Why did they not raise their voice then?” he asked, asserting that the issue was being selectively politicised.
He maintained that such debates were immaterial and diverted attention from real concerns. “These are immaterial issues. Tell the BJP to talk about development and jobs,” the Deputy Chief Minister said. [KNT]
