Diwan of Ajmer Sharif welcomes scrapping of Article 370

Jaipur (IANS) The diwan of the Khwaja Moinuddin Hasan Chishti dargah in Ajmer, Saiyad Jainul Obedin, on Monday welcomed the government's move to revoke Article 370 of the Constitution which grants special status to Jammu and Kashmir, terming it as a historic day for the country.

He also congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for taking this bold move.

In a big triumph for the government, the Rajya Sabha on Monday passed the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill 2019 and adopted the resolution to abrogate the Constitution's Article 370. The Bill would now be tabled in the Lok Sabha for consideration and passing. 

Addressing a press conference, Obedin said, "The Kashmir chapter is closed and now the issue of Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) will be discussed. 

"The Kashmir issue was awaiting its solution since the last 70 years. Article 370 was introduced in Kashmir in 1949. From then till now, the move to scrap it was discussed many times as it was a temporary installation."

He said the present government has fulfilled its political commitment, making Monday a historic day by removing all hurdles to resolve the Kashmir issue. "We welcome this move and congratulate the government for the same," Obedin added.

The Kashmir issue has also been resolved on the international platform. Kashmir was a part of India, it is a part of India and it shall remain a part of India, he said.

The scrapping of Article 370 would help the residents of Kashmir and Ladakh regions enjoy all the facilities that people of the other states enjoy. Hence they should join the mainstream and work shoulder to shoulder for the country's development, the diwan added. 

Urging the Kashmiri people to stay away from getting lured by anyone, especially by the Hurriyat separatists and the local politicians, Obedin said they should now think of progress and development of the state and their respective families.

They should never think that they have been separated from the rest of their brethren as everybody wants to take them along on the path of development and progress, Obedin said.