Anand Sharma asks Centre to make its stand clear on Article 370

NEW DELHI: Congress leader Anand Sharma today asked the newly elected ministers to refrain from making "any frivolous statement on matters which are highly sensitive" and demanded the Union Cabinet to make its position clear on Article 370.

"It is the Cabinet to make the position clear. There should not be any frivolous statement made on matters which are highly sensitive and complex," the former Union Minister said.

He was reacting to statement of Minister of State in PMO Jitendra Singh that the Modi government is open to debate on merits and demerits of Article 370 for Jammu and Kashmir.

Singh's statement stoked a controversy on Article 370 by seeking a debate.

"BJP has this in its manifesto. But that does not mean that the country agrees with this position.

"I would rather advice those who have made these statements and retractions to be careful and cautious because they are new and inexperienced and they must know that they should not create a situation where the peace and stability in the state is affected," Sharma said.

Congress has alleged political motive behind remarks of the BJP minister and said that this is "not a flip flop" but a "carefully orchestrated attempt" at polarising upcoming Assembly elections in states.

The party also echoed Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's view that Article 370 that provides special status to Jammu and Kashmir simply "cannot be repealed".