A group of traders and businessmen in Jammu dismissed the call for a separate state for Jammu, advocating instead for statehood for J&K. They opposed recent demands by certain right-wing organizations like the RSS and Bajrang Dal for a separate Jammu state, citing potential harm to the economy and national interests. The traders emphasized the economic interdependence between Jammu and Kashmir, warning that a split would exacerbate existing challenges and harm both regions.
Expressing concern over Ladakh’s separation, the traders highlighted the negative impact of further division on the region. They criticized divisive rhetoric by politicians and stressed the importance of unity and development over fragmentation. The traders cautioned that any additional divisions would jeopardize regional harmony and go against national interests.
The traders also recalled the economic setbacks following the cancellation of the Darbar Move and welcomed its restoration, attributing the move’s absence to significant trade damage in Jammu. The Darbar Move, a practice of shifting the J&K government between Srinagar and Jammu, was reinstated by the NC government in 2021 after being discontinued by the L-G administration.
