J&K UT to have two capital cities — first of its kind

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, August 18

The practice of the bi-annual “Durbar move” or the shifting of the seat of the state government to Jammu during winters and its return to Srinagar for the summers will continue despite the state of Jammu and Kashmir getting converted into Union Territory on October 31.

It means that J&K UT will continue to have two capital cities of Jammu and Srinagar.

Till that time, the state of Jammu and Kashmir will continue in its current form, where it has three regions of Jammu, Ladakh and the Kashmir valley. It is to keep emotions in check that the Centre delayed the formation of the new UTs till October-end, a highly placed source told The Tribune on Sunday.

“There would not be much of a difference in the current system of functioning of the government. It will continue to have the age-old system of “Durbar move” wherein the government will function alternatively from Jammu and Srinagar with the change of season every six months,” a source privy to deliberations said.

All other existing UTs in the country, Chandigarh, Delhi, Puducherry, Daman-Diu, Lakshdweep, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Andman-Nicobar Islands have only one capital.

The Durbar Move practice was introduced in the early 20th century by the Dogra rulers to be closer to the people of all regions. This practice continued even after the state acceded to India and became a democratic entity.

The administration was seized of the mood of the people in Kashmir following the scrapping of Article of 370 and tthe bifurcation of the state. It has not been received well by most of them. It is being hoped in the administrative circles both at the Central and the state levels that gradually when they would see that the things were getting back to normal and the opportunities opening up, they would realise that all decisions have been taken for their betterment.

“But it will take time,” the source said.

The Centre is apprehensive that the people in Kashmir Valley could fall victim to fear-mongering and propaganda from across the border.

“There are hundreds of videos aimed at provoking the people waiting to be loaded from across the border. Those could prove deadlier,” the source said, explaining that these could have led to the serial clashes and a very high number of casualties.

He disclosed that the situation since August 5 when Articles 370 and 35A were done away with has not been “incident- free.” There were 60 injuries. Barring three, all others have been discharged.

Regarding the two sets of flags, national Tricolour and J&K flag flying side by side despite the Centre having had done away with the special status of the state, and J&K having become part of the PM’s definition of “one nation, one constitution, one flag,” he said that this was to keep tempers in check. The government did not want to go in for any provocation and wanted to keep the I-Day celebrations peaceful.

He said it was against this backdrop and the consideration that Governor Satya Pal Malik’s jeep which he rode to inspect the I-day parade was also fitted with the two flags on Thursday. The state flag, however, has been removed from the state vehicles. Elsewhere, it is all Tricolour.