Optimism of long term gains to cultural re-integration and hopes of secessionist forces losing ground are some of the reactions from several prominent people of Telangana to the Centre scrapping Article 370 that granted special status to Kashmir.
A priest of the famous Lord Balaji temple at Chilkur in neighbouring Ranga Reddy district recalled the links of saint Ramanuja and Adi Sankaracharya with Kashmir and said the state, now proposed to be bifurcated into two union territories, had later remained culturally isolated.
Kashmir is the seat of our civilisation for our Sanatana Dharma... Kashmir was culturally isolated... Now, we have a chance to re-integrate Kashmir, culturally with the Indian way of culture, priest C S Rangarajan told PTI.
Sharada Peeth in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir is a seat of knowledge for us. Lot of agama shastras were born in Kashmir. This is the right time to get back all those cultural connections, he said.
The name Kashmir itself came from Kashyapa Maharshi, the priest said adding he was 'proud' of the governments decision.
We are 100 per cent with the government in all these actions it is taking. We want to fully support whatever actions they are taking, he said.
Prominent Telugu film-maker Tammareddy Bharadwaja said he was in favour of one law for the entire country and stressed on uplifting the peoples lives.
Former Telangana police chief Anurag Sharma welcomed the move and said it would help the state in the long term.
It will take a little time to stabilise, but I am sure after that, things will normalise. In the long term, the movewillhelpthestate improve economically and socially. Because that is what people depend on. If our economy is good, all the other things would take a back seat, Sharma said.
Citing the example of old city of Hyderabad, he said it had issues when it was lagging on the development front.
"It is only the deprivation and poverty which make people more militant," he said.
Karunedra S Jasti, President, the Federation of Telangana Chambers of Commerce and Industry, expressed hope the Centre's move would help Kashmir.
"From what I understand is that once it (Art 370) is repealed, it is becoming part of the system and and the situation will get better. It should be good for the state, the secessionists will lose their ground and course of action," he said.
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