Amidst mixed reactions, Indian sports fraternity has in fact welcomed the decision made by the Central Government to scrap Article 370 of the Indian Constitution.
Notably, it is this very Article which gives special status to the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday moved the resolution on Article 370 in the Rajya Sabha. A separate bill which will now bifurcate the state of Jammu and Kashmir into two distinct union territories has in fact been passed. The two union territories will be Jammu and Kashmir with an Assembly and Ladakh without an Assembly.
Many sports personalities have, in fact, come to the forefront to congratulate the country and hail Modi government’s decision. The list includes the likes of former cricketer Gautam Gambhir, who is now a Member of Parliament from the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP), cricketer-turned-commentator Mohammad Kaif and his former Uttar Pradesh and India teammate Suresh Raina.
Ace Indian wrestler Bajrang Punia, Wrestler Geeta Phogat and Former India cricket captain Anjum Chopra were among others to welcome the move.
Here are their reactions:
जो कोई ना कर सका वो हमने कर दिखाया है।
कश्मीर में भी अपना तिरंगा लहराया हैं 🇮🇳🇮🇳
जय हिंद ! Congratulations India ! कश्मीर मुबारक!@narendramodi @AmitShah— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) August 5, 2019
Landmark move – scrapping of #Article370! Looking forward to smoother, and more inclusive times. #JaiHind🇮🇳
— Suresh Raina🇮🇳 (@ImRaina) August 5, 2019
Here’s to more inclusiveness. May there be peace and love. #Article370
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) August 5, 2019
The scrapping of #Article370 is certainly a good and bold move. Loss of lives and uncertainty in the valley has to be addressed someday. #JammuAndKashmir @AmitShah @BJP4India
— Anjum Chopra (@chopraanjum) August 5, 2019
सरकार के साहसपूर्ण कदम का हम हार्दिक अभिनंदन करते हैं। यह जम्मू-कश्मीर सहित पूरे देश के हित के लिए अत्यधिक आवश्यक था !
सभी को अपने स्वार्थों एवं राजनीतिक भेदों से ऊपर उठकर इस पहल का स्वागत और समर्थन करना चाहिये। #Article370 #KashmirHamaraHai.jai hind🇮🇳🙏🏻🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/WGn3mit0JO— Bajrang Punia 🇮🇳 (@BajrangPunia) August 5, 2019
स्वतंत्र भारत में एक ऐतिहासिक फैसला
अखंड भारत🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳
भारत सरकार को इस ऐतिहासिक कदम के लिए धन्यवाद 🙏 #Article370 #KashmirParFinalFight— geeta phogat (@geeta_phogat) August 5, 2019
The bill to scrap Article 370 is presently being debated upon in Lok Sabha.