Controversial left leaning litterateur and historian K S Bhagawan, a staunch critic of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has heaped praise on him for government's move to revoke Article 370 giving special status to Jammu and Kashmir.
The decision has rid the people of Kashmir of their sufferings and brought happiness to the country, Bhagawan said.
"I am proud and happy that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will leave a permanent mark in the history of the country. Jai Narendra Modi," he said in a hand-written press release.
The move has brought the the entire nation under one constitution, Bhagawan said, adding, the entire country was "desperately" waiting for it.
Without elaborating, the rationalist said at least Rs seven crore to Rs eight crore was being "wasted" per day in Kashmir, which can now be utilised for the people's welfare.
Later speaking to PTI, Bhagawan said: "There was a distinction between rest of the country and Kashmir. Modi erased that dichotomy in one go."
Justifying applauding Modi on the issue, Bhagawan said whatever is good for the country should be appreciated.
"What former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee could not do, was made possible by Modi, which everyone should welcome," he said.
The controversial author was reportedly in the hit list of a "right wing gang", which was allegedly behind the killing of journalist Gauri Lankesh and rationalist M M Kalburgi, following which his security was strengthened.
Bhagawan had drawn flak in February 2015 when he allegedly stated that certain stanzas of the Bhagavad Gita should be burnt as they promote caste-based discrimination against the "Shudras" or the lowest strata of Hindu society.
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