A Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office on Tuesday kicked up a controversy with his remarks that efforts would be made to “convince” the “unconvinced” on abrogation of Article 370, evoking sharp retorts from J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and the PDP.
First-time Lok Sabha member Jitendra Singh, who was a surprise choice as the Minister of State in the PMO, said government was open to debate the merits and demerits of the Article that gives special status to Jammu and Kashmir.
Mr. Singh (57), elected from Udhampur Lok Sabha seat, said the BJP was working “very professionally” on this issue and had been calling meetings in the Valley.
However, Mr. Omar shot off his tweets saying the Article was the “ONLY Constitutional link” between the State and the country.
He said “Mark my words and save this tweet — long after Modi Govt is a distant memory either J&K won’t be part of India or Art 370 will still exist.”
The PDP said the Prime Minister and the BJP leadership should rein in Mr. Singh.
Later in the night, the Minister in a statement said he had been “misquoted” in media reports. — PTI
