Jammu, Oct. 18 -- The traders and civil society members have welcomed the resumption of Darbar Move practice and hoped that the decision would bring sagging economy of Jammu back on rails. Chief minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday announced resumption of the traditional bi-annual Darbar Move practice, one of the agenda in National Conference's manifesto during the 2024 assembly elections. "We whole heartedly welcome the decision to resume Darbar Move. It will definitely improve the economy of Jammu," said president of the Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industry Arun Gupta. Gupta further said that Darbar Move had two key aspects to it--economical and social. "Kashmiris used to come to Jammu and celebrated their festivals with us and vice versa. It gave an opportunity to understand each other. It promoted brotherhood," he added. Gupta regretted that the decision to scrap Darbar Move caused enormous loss to the traders in Jammu in the past four years. "The commercial activity has taken a severe hit, shopkeepers are sitting idle and properties are lying vacant," he added. Over fours years ago, on June 30, 2021, the bi-annual practice of Darbar Move-shifting the seat of power to Jammu for six months during winters and moving it back to Srinagar for remaining six months-was scrapped by the LG's administration. Though the government move was widely criticised by the people, including those associated with trade and industry, tourism and allied sectors, the decision was not rolled back. Dogra ruler Maharja Ranbir Singh made the arrangement of shifting the Darbar from Srinagar to Jammu in 1870s to escape harsh winter in the Valley and the Jammu's extreme heat in the summer. The BJP government at the Centre had banned thepractice citing recurring expenditure of around Rs.200 crore of public money annually to shuffle staff and records between the two capital cities every six months.htc...