Secretariat and most of the government offices moved to Jammu and Kashmir’s winter capital, Jammu, this month. This reporter spoke to people in Srinagar to know if they noticed any change after the Darbar Move.
“Darbar move has left an impact on many things in the city. There are heavy power cuts in many areas and no one [in the government] is concerned about the problems faced by people; it makes the general public suffer.” Abdul Majeed Dar
“In summers our ministers raise slogans that we will get our power projects back but during winters in the valley they forget the real sufferings of the people.” – Khursheed Ahmad Baba
“We don’t have basic facilities—be it Srinagar or Jammu—asour politicians keep promising and forgot them when they move to the other capital city.” Asif Ashraf
“I read in one of the newspapers that Darbar Move costs around a hundred crore rupees annually; they (government)is wasting the money of general public and leaving them to suffer every year.”Mohammad Yousuf, Chemist
“Traffic jams have increased in every corner of the city after Darbar Move as traffic policemen move along with the ministers.” Mohammad Vikas
“Work onvarious civicprojects is pending for last four months and our ministers in Jammu have become mute spectators even though the projects have failed to meet even the revised deadlines.” Syed Aadil Qureshi, Student
“We face many problems during the winter; the government should abolish this age-old system of shifting offices.”Anwar Ali, Shopkeeper
“The main benefit of the Darbar Move (to Srinagar) is that roads and drains are cleaned in major tourist spots and that makes tourists visit the city, but after the offices shift to Jammu, many essential services lack here.” Mehnaz Qayoom
“We expect more accountability when Darbar is here; due to public pressure at least ministers order some action against [errant] office bearers.” Abdul Qayoom Tantray
“Tourists come here when Darbar is here because that time our ministers speak positive about Kashmir through media, and when they reach the winter capital they talk negative about Kashmir to please a few elements there.” Mohammad Akram Mir
“We face electricity problems as Darbar shifts to Jammu and we expect good electricity only when they will be back to Srinagar,” Ruksana Nabi, Student
“For last few days we don’t witness any protest at the Press Colony by any organization or employees’ forum because after Darbar Move nobody pays any attention to their demands.” Mohammad Abid Sheikh,Shopkeeper
“There is no impact in the city as problems remain the same. Darbar Move is for the ministers for their comfort. There’s nothing for the poor people, be it Jammu or Srinagar city.” Joginder Singh, Cobbler
“We face immense problems during winters but electricity is the main problem that we face after the Darbar Move.” Zahid Ahmad Mir
“Braid chopping has totally stopped after the Darbar Move as it was a government-sponsored game and when Darbar is in Kashmir there are always some issues prevailing here.” Mohammad Ayoub Thokar, Businessman
“After Darbar move there has been an increase in traffic jams in many parts of the city. When ministers are here, more traffic policemen are present but at the end they leave people in trouble.” Mubeena Manzoor, Doctor
“Darbar Move does not have any impact in Srinagar because the development works go on at a slow pace before and after the move. Our ministers only know how to spend the public money for concerts and exhibitions.” Irfan Yousuf, Student
“We face immense electricity problem after the Darbar Move. We tried to meet the concerned government officers but to no avail. It is adding miseries to common people.” Mohammad Akbar Ganie, Carpenter
“Today is the age of e-governance; shifting offices and moving from one place to another is an age-old process and who will people tell their problems as their representatives are 300 kilometers away from here.” – Nusrat Maqbool, Student
“After Darbar Move, roadside parking as increased and the traffic police department is sleeping. The Srinagar Municipal Corporation is busy sending press releases.” Mohammad Ayoub, University student
“We faced problems throughout the year regardless of the Darbar being here or in Jammu. The ministers shift there for comfort and nothing is being done for benefit of the common masses.” Amin Mir
“The Darbar Move has impacted public work, which is pending across the city. Nobody takes the responsibility of working for the benefit of people. Even when the ministers are here, they don’t usually review these projects.” Imtiyaz Hussain Mattoo
“After Darbar Move, I am caught in traffic jam outside the civil secretariat everyday and no one pays any heed to the problems the people face. Traffic cops also turn deaf ears.” Mohammad Shabaan Malik, Businessman
“We have been facing regular traffic jams and power cuts since the Darbar Move.” Mudasir Ahmad Rather, Student
“Power cut down is the main problem that we faced after the Darbar Move, which causes inconvenience to people.” Humaira Khurshid, Student
“Developmental works are affected the most as the contractors take the advantage of the Darbar Move” Ali Mohammad Abasi, Teacher
“Darbar Move cannot affect anything here in Srinagar because our minister did not bother to do anything when they were here for six months. People here face problems throughout the year.” Akash Yousuf, Shopkeeper
