J&K's Article 370 Scrapped: Raj Thackeray exults, 'after a long time, Centre makes an exceptional decision'

Raj Thackeray who has in the past never missed an opportunity to criticise the BJP-led Centre on Tuesday tweeted praising the government's decision to revoke Article 370. 

The MNS chief in adulation of the Modi government's decision to integrate Kashmir with the rest of India said that "After a long time, the Central government  makes an exceptional decision." 

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On Monday, the Rajya Sabha passed a statutory resolution on Article 370 and the state Reorganisation bill on Monday. The Bill to abrogate Article 370 saw an easy passage in the Rajya Sabha with 125 members voted in its favour and 61 voted against it. 

Thackeray is among several in the Opposition who have backed the Centre in its decision to revoke Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir. Apart from Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, the Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party, Arvind Kejriwal's AAP and Chandrababu Naidu's Telugu Desam Party have supported the Centre's move.

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Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party supported the move by the Centre. An MLA from the party Rajendra Guda praised PM Modi for the decision the Article 370. Aam Aadmi Party convener and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal tweeted, "We support the government on its decisions on J & K. We hope this will bring peace and development in the state."

BJP's ally in Maharashtra and Raj Thackeray's rival in the state Shiv Sena welcomed the Centre's proposals. Its leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut said, "Removing Article 370 is like killing Bhasmasur, its like killing a demon. Removing Article 370 not only makes the country happy but Veer Savarkar, Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, Balasaheb (Thackeray) would have been also been happy."

READ | J&K's Article 370 To Be Revoked: BSP, AAP, BJD, YSRCP Among Parties Supporting BJP-led Modi Govt's Move