The public interface programme has been launched on directions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Ministers will “educate locals on benefits of the abrogation of Article 370” and “development schemes for the region”.

The first batch of Ministers arrived in Jammu on Saturday, including Minister of State (MoS) in the Prime Minister's Office Jitendra Singh; MoS for Parliamentary Affairs and Water Resources Arjun Ram Meghwal and MoS for Health Ashwini Choubey.

Mr. Meghwal, who inaugurated a tubewell and drain protection wall at Birpur in Mandana of Samba, interacted with people and “listened to their development needs”.

“The BJP government does not believe in discrimination on the basis of caste and colour,” Dr. Choubey said.

On dilution of Article 370, Mr. Singh said, “People had to wait for this long because it had to happen under the aegis of a personality like Modi.” He later inaugurated a smart classroom and laid foundation stone of a sports stadium at Gole Gujral, Marh, in Jammu.

Of 36 Union Ministers, 21 will tour Jammu and over five will visit the Kashmir valley up to January 24.

The outreach programme will also take stock of 55 beneficiary-oriented schemes, rapid infrastructure development including implementation of Prime Minister’s Development Programme (PMDP).

A central control room has been established to ensure seamless coordination, an official said.

Chief of the J&K National Panthers Party Harshdev Singh said, “The visit is nothing but a publicity stunt.”

Earlier, senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said the BJP can’t change J&K situation by “air dropping ministers.