As Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday proposed to scrap Article 370 of the Constitution which gives special status to Jammu and Kashmir, Twitter got flooded with messages related to the issue with many hailing #OneCountryOneSystem.
Following the decision, B-town celebs like Ekta Kapoor, Dia Mirza, Vikrant Massey, Zaira Wasim, Raveena Tandon and Maanvi Gagroo among others took to Twitter to share their reactions.
Ekta Kapoor wrote, “It’s a radical desicion but need of the hour!! Only hope Kashmir stays safe !#historicalday”. Actor Ranvir Shorey also tweeted, “Welcome move on #Kashmir by the govt. It will go a long way in resolving the issues in the state and bring peace and prosperity to its people. Haters can go on hating. Hope the rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits will begin soon too.”
It’s a radical desicion but need of the hour!! Only hope Kashmir stays safe !#historicalday https://t.co/kANQx3xWPt
— Ekta Kapoor (@ektaravikapoor) August 5, 2019
Dia Mirza posted on Twitter, “My thoughts are with #Kashmir. Praying for peace #KashmirNeedsAttention”. Zaira Wasim, who recently made headlines for quitting Bollywood, tweeted, “This too shall pass! #Kashmir.”
Whatever happens in politics, let there be no bloodshed, let sense prevail. We’re one, all Indians. We are a peaceful people. We believe in compassion, not coercion. Be kind peeps! ❤️Jai Hind. https://t.co/ObtXWghTqZ
— TheRichaChadha (@RichaChadha) August 5, 2019
Atul Kasbekar also took to Twitter and wrote, “Time to unconditionally back the govt on this decision imo. A huge call has been taken n it needs everyone’s support now. I hope we also extend much love n every kind of support to the people of Kashmir so that they feel more n more connected over time. One India. Jai Hind.”
🇮🇳 5.8.2019 🇮🇳
— mohit raina (@mohituraina) August 5, 2019
Vikrant Massey tweeted, “Never did I think I’d say this. But, THANK YOU! @BJP4India @AmitShah & @narendramodi It had to go! #Article370 Those warning of “dangerous consequences” SHAME ON YOU! #OneNationOneLaw”
Never did I think I’d say this.
— Vikrant Massey (@masseysahib) August 5, 2019
But, THANK YOU! @BJP4India @AmitShah & @narendramodi 🙏🏾
It had to go! #Article370
Those warning of “dangerous consequences” SHAME ON YOU!
#OneNationOneLaw 🇮🇳
Maanvi Gagroo shared an image of her ancestral home in Srinagar and tweeted, “Our family’s ancestral home in Srinagar. Taken away, ruined and now razed down. Just thought of sharing this today. #KashmiriPandits #PanunKashir.”
Actor-politician Paresh Rawal wrote on Twitter, “Today is the true and complete independence of our motherland. Today in the true sense of the word INDIA becomes ONE !!! jai Hind.”
Anupam Kher, a loud voice in the debate over the state, on Monday tweeted that he had "woken up in New York to the best news" of his life. Mr Kher, 64, has long been a vociferous proponent of reform in India's relationship with its northern-most state. A Kashmiri Pandit himself, he is known to have strong views about the exodus of the community triggered by violence in late 1989 and early 1990.
I HAVE WOKEN UP IN NY TO THE BEST NEWS OF MY LIFE ABOUT KASHMIR. AND ON THE DAY MY AUTOBIOGRAPHY #LessonsLifeTaughtMeUnknowingly RELEASES! WHAT BETTER GIFT LIFE STORY OF A KASHMIRI BOY COULD GET. THANK YOU GOD, #GovtOfIndia, PM @narendramodi, @AmitShah. CONGRATULATIONS INDIA.🇮🇳🇮🇳
— Anupam Kher (@AnupamPKher) August 5, 2019
"Kashmir has cost India so much - suffering in the state, terror all over, lakhs of crores in extra defence budget, soldiers losing their lives. Meanwhile, hundreds of fancy conferences pretending to solve the issue. Time it all stops. #OneCountryOneSystem #Article370," author Chetan Bhagat tweeted.
Shah also said that Jammu and Kashmir will be split into two Union Territories: Jammu and Kashmir with an Assembly and Ladakh sans one.
Welcome move on #Kashmir by the govt. It will go a long way in resolving the issues in the state and bring peace and prosperity to its people. Haters can go on hating. Hope the rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits will begin soon too. @PMOIndia @HMOIndia
— रanviर_ डhoरeय_ (Ranvir Shorey) (@RanvirShorey) August 5, 2019
Many Twitter users lauded Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for their brave new stance against separatists.
"One flag, one country, one constitution!!! Long live india #KashmirHamaraHai #Article370," wrote one user.
"Union Home Min @AmitShah moves historic resolution to revoke #Article370. (There should be an informed debate. Disappointed with the opposition for creating disturbance instead of an informed debate on such a crucial issue. Debate not disruption) Big move by @PMOIndia," tweeted another.
Some even predicted that the move will lead to another landslide victory for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the next general elections in 2024.
This is the greatest homage to all those braves martyred for the dream of a United India. 🇮🇳🇮🇳
— Vivek Anand Oberoi (@vivekoberoi) August 5, 2019
Hats off and a big thank you to @narendramodi ji and @AmitShah ji from the heart of each and every patriotic Indian. #OneIndia #AkhandBharat #JaiHind 🇮🇳
Bye Bye #Article370 #35A 👋
"Today Narendra Modi & Amit Shah took 370 from Indians. Indians will reward them by giving 370 in 2024. #Article370," tweeted one user.
"Congratulations for winning next lok sabha elections. #Article370 #ModiHaiToMumkinHai," said another.
Soon after the move to revoke Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir was announced by Shah in the Rajya Sabha, #Article 370, #kashmirhamaraHai, #370gaya, #KashmirParFinalFight startred trending on Twitter.
"I propose a gigantic statue of Shyama Prasad Mukherjee at Lal Chowk -- the man who gave his life for Kashmir's Azadi from #Article370," filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri wrote.
Status Quo on #Kashmir is done & dusted with. The region will ‘theoretically’ be treated like any other in #India .Growing up as a child of the Indian Armed Forces & having heard numerous first hand stories,this is a move I personally welcome.The band-aid ripped off. #370scrapped
— SONA (@sonamohapatra) August 5, 2019
There were, however, no dearth of criticism of the move either.
"If this is not a democratic crisis I do not know what is. India please awaken NOW," wrote Carnatic singer-activist T.M. Krishna.
"This is wholly illegal. As Gulzari Lal Nanda put it in the Lok Sabha on December 4, 1964, Article 370 represents the only way of taking the Indian Constitution into J&K," lawyer Suhrith wrote.
Whatever happens in politics, let there be no bloodshed, let sense prevail. We’re one, all Indians. We are a peaceful people. We believe in compassion, not coercion. Be kind peeps! ❤️Jai Hind. https://t.co/ObtXWghTqZ
— TheRichaChadha (@RichaChadha) August 5, 2019
This too shall pass! #Kashmir
— Zaira Wasim (@ZairaWasimmm) August 4, 2019
This is the beginning of a #NewIndia
— Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri (@vivekagnihotri) August 5, 2019
Kashmir is a Union Territory now. pic.twitter.com/M35d2krgf6