The Centre doing away with Article 370 was virtually a bolt from the blue for natives of Jammu and Kashmir living here for decades, whose emotions ranged from hope to despair over it.
While some opined they could not guess about the long-term outcome, others hoped the move would help the people of the state.
Ashraf, an employee with a fashion jewellery store here said it was "simply an illegal act done without thinking about the welfare of the Kashmiris."
Several others hailing from Jammu and Kashmir, including a man who runs a store at downtown Nungambakkam declined to comment, saying the issue was too "sensitive and we are here only to live a peaceful life."