India independent in true sense with Article 370 move: Uddhav

Mumbai: The Shiv Sena on Monday hailed the Modi-led government's move to abolish Article 370 that gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir, saying India has become independent in true sense with this decision. Sena president Uddhav Thackeray, whose party is an ally of the ruling BJP, said the government's move on Article 370 is fulfilment of the dream of late Bal Thackeray and former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. "I am happy that such a big dream has come true.

Today, our country has become fully independent," Thackeray told reporters at his residence here. He asked the opposition parties to "leave aside their political shoes" and support the sovereignty of India. The Sena chief further said countries like the US "need not poke their nose into our issues". "The Jammu and Kashmir issue is India's internal matter. We no more want to hear Pakistan-occupied territory, now its time to occupy Pakistan itself," Thackeray said.

"Those who will oppose this decision, the government is strong enough to take care of them," he added. The government on Monday abolished Article 370 that gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir and moved a separate bill to bifurcate the northern 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.