Article 370 divides Modi Govt

Controversy must be avoided: MoS Defence No harm in debate on law: Agri Minister

 The differences have cropped up in Modi government over Article 370 with Minister of State for Defence saying controversy on the law must be avoided while Agriculture Minister said there was no harm in debate on it.
“Nothing can vitiate the fact that Jammu and Kashmir is an ‘integral part’ of India and it always will be,” said Inderjit Singh, Minister of State for Defence in his facebook post.
He said at a time when the new government is yet to completely take over the routine functioning in the office, any controversy around Article 370 seems unnecessary.
Singh, who also holds the portfolio of Planning, Statistics and Programme Implementation, made the comments against the backdrop of a controversy triggered by Jitendra Singh, Minister of State in the PMO.
Jitendra Singh had said that the Modi government had initiated discussions with stakeholders for abrogation of Article 370 which grants special status to Jammu and Kashmir.
The comment had evoked sharp reaction from parties in Jammu and Kashmir, including Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
Meanwhile, Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh said there should be an open debate on Article 370 and common civil code.
“There is no harm in having an open debate on issues like Article 370 and a common civil code. Why should we shy away from weighing their pros and cons?” he said.

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