The BJP and Shiv Sena celebrated the withdrawal of special status to J&K and bifurcation of the state into two Union Territories while the Congress, NCP and others called it the murder of democracy. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis welcomed the move and recalled the martyrdom of Jan Sangha founder late Dr Syama Prasad Mukherjee for the cause of Article 370. Mukherjee died under mysterious circumstances in Srinagar in 1953 when he was in police custody after leading protests in Kashmir. Jan Sangh was dissolved to be shaped as BJP in 1980. Fadnavis said the slogan 'Jaha huye balidan Mukherjee woh Kashmir hamara hai' is close to every BJP worker since childhood.

Also Read: No denying issues in saffron pact: CM