Srinagar, Feb. 15 -- Rijiju claimed that Andhra Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and his Bihar counterpart Nitish Kumar were on board with the government's decision.

Asked if Naidu and Kumar were supportive of the bill, the minister replied in the affirmative saying several Muslim MPs too have privately supported it.

"Several Muslim MPs have expressed support (for the bill) while thousands of Muslims, including women, have welcomed it," Rijiju said.

He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have made it clear that statehood to Jammu and Kashmir will be restored in due course of time.

However, Rijiju, who holds the parliamentary affairs and minority affairs portfolios, declined to give a timeline for the restor...