Welcoming the Centre's move to abolish Article 370 on Jammu and Kashmir, people from a cross- section in Gujarat hoped the landmark decision would bring peace and development in the strife-torn state.
The BJP-led central government on Monday abolished Article 370 that gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir, and moved a separate bill to bifurcate the border state into two separate Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.
Home Minister Amit Shah moved a resolution in the Rajya Sabha to abolish Article 370 after President Ram Nath Kovind issued a notification in this regard, and also moved the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill 2019.
Shubham Kaul, a native of Jammu working in Ahmedabad since last six years, said the decision was long due.
Terming it as a "historic day", he said people of Jammu and Kashmir were waiting for this since last many years.
"This decision was long due and necessary for the overall development of Jammu and Kashmir. Article 370 prevented outside investment in that region. Thanks to this decision, tourism and industrial activities would flourish, which would bring employment for the local youth," Kaul said.
Nilesh Desai, a college student, lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government for taking such a "bold decision".
"I am still in disbelief that it has happened finally. Article 370 was a controversial issue and no party or leader was ready to address this despite the fact that it only fuelled unrest in that state," he said.
"Now, this bold decision by the BJP-led government would bring development in that region and curb the menace of terrorism and incidents like pelting of stones," Desai said.
Ketan Prajapati from Vadodara said the entire country was with Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for taking this decision.
Dharmesh Patel, a resident of Surat city, said both Modi and Shah have fulfilled the unfinished work of India's first home minister late Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
"People of India have been demanding since last 70 years that Article 370 be scrapped. Now, our wait is finally over. I urge the countrymen to support both of them who have fulfilled the unfinished work of Sardar Patel," he said.
"They have fulfilled the promise made to the countrymen. This decision would allow people from other states to do business in Kashmir," Patel said.
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