Union home minister Amit Shah speaking at a function in Chennai on Sunday (TOI photo by A Prathap)

CHENNAI: Union home minister Amit Shah on Sunday said withdrawal of the special status to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 will end terrorism in the Union territory and lead to betterment of the lives of the people.

Speaking at a function here to launch a book written by Vice- President M Venkaiah Naidu , Shah said the removal of the special status would lead to all-round development of the Union territory.

The home minister said he was first hesitant to move the bill in Rajya Sabha to remove withdrawal of the special to Jammu and Kashmir. “We don’t have majority in Rajya Sabha and I had doubts about passing the bill in Rajya Sabha. Even on the day when the bill was moved, I was not sure. But with almost all parties supporting the bill, we saw it through,” said Shah.

“Even when I was an MLA, I was firm that Article 370 should be abrogated. Finally, it so happened that I moved the bill, and Venkaiah Naidu, who opposed the Article as a student leader, was the chairman of Rajya Sabha when it was passed,” said Shah.

Naidu, who spoke after Shah, echoed the same views.

Earlier, welcoming the gathering, Union minister of forests and environment Prakash Javadekar said there was no violence in the Union territory after the bill was cleared. “People of the state have welcomed the scrapping of the special status and there is absolute peace in the state. People have accepted to the changes,” said the minister.

Actor Rajinikanth , who was a surprise invitee, praised Shah for passing the bill and called Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah “Krishna and Arjuna.”

“I don't know who is Arjuna and who is Krishna among the two. My heartfelt congratulations to Shah for passing the bill,’’ said the actor.

Read this report in Bengali



In Video: 'Article 370 removal will result in end of terrorism in Kashmir'