After triggering row, Jitendra evades questions on Article 370

A day after stoking a controversy by making certain comments on Article 370, Union minister Jitendra Singh dodged all the questions related to the issue.

"This place smells of science and there would only be scientific talk in this room and nothing else," Singh told reporters when asked about the issue when he took charge as the minister of state for science and technology and earth sciences.

He dodged every question asked by the media related to his statement on Article 370.

Singh, who hails from Jammu, had triggered a controversy by saying on Tuesday that the Modi government had begun talks with "stakeholders" on abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution, which grants special status to Jammu and Kashmir. Later, he said he had been misquoted by the media.

However, his comments evoked strong response, with Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah saying that the talk of revocation of Article 370 was "irresponsible" and "ill-informed".

Reacting to Abdullah's statement, Singh said, "Good days have come since May 26. If the CM doesn't look at it then one cannot help it."

Image: Union Minister Jitendra Singh