Indian-Americans support scrapping of J&K's special status

Hundreds of Indian-Americans assembled outside Indian Consulate Houston on Saturday in support of India's decision revoking Jammu and Kashmir's special status and bifurcating state into two Union Territories.

Indian Americans, under aegis of Houston chapter of Friends of India Society International (FISI) and Houston chapter of Global Kashmiri Pandit Diaspora (GKPD), raised slogans like "hail Indian democracy", "hail Indian secularism".

y were carrying banners like "Article 370, draconian, discriminatory", , "Pakistan - stop manufacturing terrorists " and "Pakistan let us live in peace".

garing also thwarted a protest march by Islamic Society of Greater Houston to show solidarity with Pakistan.

FISI hailed "visionary leership" of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for "landmark decision".

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Mhukar i, an activist, leing Houston FISI Chapter, said  revoking provisions of article 370 and declaring Jammu and Kashmir as a Union Territory with its legislature and Lakh as a separate UT will provide equal opportunities to all residents without any discrimination on basis of cast, creed, ethnicity and religion.

" only nda left is to regain occupied part of Kashmir which is under illegal occupation of Pakistan," he said.

Achalesh Amar, national treasurer of FISI, said Kashmiri Hindus for last 30 years have been living as refugees in ir own country India.

"Current decision by PM should t be seen through prism of religion. common residents of state will have access to better education, healthcare, profound development, employment," he said. 

RE | FULL SPEECH: PM Modi Calls Jammu & Kashmir " Crown Of India", Explains All Facets Of Article 370's Abrogation