New Delhi: The two regional parties from Andhra Pradesh, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) on Monday (August 5), supported the BJP government's move to scrap Articles 370 and 35A that had granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir.

The Union government also moved a Bill to reorganise the state of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories (Jammu and Kashmir with a legislature, and Ladakh without a legislature).

Article 370 exempts Jammu and Kashmir from the Indian Constitution (except Article 1 and Article 370 itself) and permits the state to draft its own Constitution. Article 370 restricts the Indian Parliament's legislative powers in respect of J&K.

Reacting to home minister Amit Shah's decision in Rajya Sabha, YSRCP leader in the upper house, Vijayasai Reddy said that the issue of Kashmir had been "pinching" the country for many years.

Addressing the Parliament, the YSRCP leader said, "Hats off to the home minister and the Prime Minister for their vision. This will completely solve the problem of Kashmir. The courageous and bold and daring step by the Home Minister will be remembered in the Indian Parliamentary history forever. Our party president, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, and our party, whole-heartedly support the move."

Andhra Pradesh opposition party TDP’s MP Kanakamedala Ravindra Kumar also welcomed the move and said, "I must congratulate the home minister and PM as by strong implementation of this, the people of Jammu and Kashmir must be relieved from all this tension and live happily and become a part of the country."

The former chief minister of Andhra Pradesh and TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu took to Twitter and said, "Telugu Desam Party supports the Union Govt as it seeks to repeal Article 370. I pray for the peace and prosperity of the people of J&K (sic)."

 

This comment by both the parties (TDP and YSRCP) came while they had been urging the Centre to grant special status for Andhra Pradesh after the bifurcation.