Govt to discuss Art 370 in J-K with all stakeholders: Singh

The Narendra Modi government is open to debate on merits and demerits of Article 370 for Jammu and Kashmir and would make efforts to "convince" the "unconvinced" by holding contact programmes with every section of society in the state, Minister of State in PMO Jitendra Singh said here today.
The 57-year-old first-time MP made it clear that BJP stood for abrogation of Article 370 (which gives special status to J and K) but at the same time it wanted to convince the people and have a democratic approach finding a lasting solution to the issue.
Singh said that state BJP was speaking to various stake holders. "We have called meetings in the Kashmir Valley and we have succeeded in convincing some of them (on repealing Article 370)," he said.

Singh, a surprise choice as Minister of State in the PMO, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his December rally last year, had suggested for discussion and seminars across the state to analyse merits and demerits of Article 370.
"His (Modi's) intention and that of the government is that we have a debate so that we can convince the unconvinced about the disadvantages of Article 370.
"If we do not have debate and discussion how would you be able to tell those who have been unable to understand what they have been deprived of on account of Article 370," he said after taking over as Minister of State incharge of Department of Personnel and Training, which has administrative control over the CBI.

The Minister said "we are working very professionally but at the same time, please keep in mind, that we are working very democratically. We do not want to impose ourselves on anyone and things will happen in natural course.