Jammu and Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah reacts to the Narendra Modi government's decision to open debate on Article 370 in the state. Minister of State in Prime Minister's office Jitendra Singh said today while making it clear that efforts would be made through this exercise to "convince" the "unconvinced".

Omar tweets, "So, the new MOS PMO says process/discussions to revoke Art 370 have started. Wow, that was a quick beginning. Not sure who is talking. 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.  Art 370 is the ONLY constitutional link between J&K & rest of India. Talk of revocation of not just ill informed it's irresponsible."

Repeating the stand of Modi during his rally in December last year, Singh, a first time Parliament Member and a surprise choice as Minister of State in the PMO, said, "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.