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NDA gaining support from parties on scrapping Article 370By Live Mint

New Delhi: The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is gaining support for the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill, 2019, introduced in the Rajya Sabha on Monday.

The Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar-led Janata Dal (United) or JDU was the only ally of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to oppose the move. The ruling alliance managed to gain support for the move from the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

“In a real sense today, Jammu and Kashmir has become a part of India. My party supports this resolution. We are a regional party, but for us the nation comes first,” said Prasanna Acharya, BJD MP, in the Rajya Sabha.

Among the parties that have come out in support are the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK).

“Our party gives its complete support. We want that the Bill be passed. Our party is not expressing any opposition to the Article 370 Bill and the other Bill,” said Satish Chandra Mishra, BSP MP, in the Rajya Sabha.

Watch: Article 370 revoked | How Modi, Shah and Doval orchestrated move



Speaking in the Rajya Sabha during the debate, members of the YSRCP termed the move of the government as historic. “We wholeheartedly laud Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah for bringing in this historic change. The government will be remembered for this for all time to come,” said Vijay Sai Reddy of the YSRCP.

However, the NDA stands divided on the JDU's opposition to the move.

“Our chief Nitish Kumar is carrying forward the tradition of JP Narayan, Ram Manohar Lohia and George Fernandes. So our party is not supporting the Bill moved in the Rajya Sabha today. We have a different way of thinking. We want that Article 370 should not be revoked,” said KC Tyagi, senior JDU leader.