Akalis advise caution on Article 370, Minister rakes up civil code

NEW DELHI/CHANDIGARH: BJP ally Akali Dal today cautioned the Centre against any hasty decision on Article 370 that gives special status to Jammu and Kashmir even as Modi government came under fresh attack over a Minister raking up another contentious issue of uniform civil code.

"The decisions on issues like Article 370 should not be taken in haste," SAD leader and Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal said in Bhatinda, a view echoed by BSP Chief Mayawati who cautioned the BJP-led government against any decision taken in haste that might affect unity and integrity of the country.

JD(U) leader and Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi criticised the Modi government for raking up the issue of scrapping of Article 370 saying it would have an adverse impact on the country.

Even as the row persisted, the Modi government came under fire after Union Minister Radha Mohan Singh said there was no harm in having an open debate on Article 370 and also uniform 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?" said the Agriculture Minister in reply to a question in Dehradun.

Reacting strongly, Congress accused the BJP government of "provoking unpleasant divisions and bitterness in society" cautioning that they can "tear" the nation.

Party spokesperson Shashi Tharoor also recalled that when such issues were raised earlier by some BJP leaders in the run-up to the Lok Sabha polls, Modi disapproved of such "distractions" and asked whether he will now allow such talks soon after the government has begun functioning.