In a high-level meeting held on Sunday in Guwahati, Home Minister Amit Shah assured the north-eastern states that the Union government will not touch the Article 371.
Addressed the 68th plenary session of North Eastern Council in Guwahati, Assam.
Modi government is committed for the development of the North East while preserving the culture and language of the region.
Our government respects Article 371 and will not alter it in any way. pic.twitter.com/8BFoknonNy
— Amit Shah (Modi Ka Parivar) (@AmitShah) September 8, 2019
The comments came off the inaugural address at the 68th plenary session of the North-eastern Council meeting held at Guwahati. The meeting saw the presence of governors and chief ministers of the eight northeastern states. After the abrogation of Article 370 and repeal of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, the north-eastern states were in fear that the provisions granting them the special status may also get scrapped. But Home Minister allayed everyone’s fears and assured of Article 371 status.
He said that the Centre government respects Article 371 and since north-eastern states are important for the country’s development, no one would touch these provisions. Article 371 of the Indian Constitution provides for the protection of local cultural and tribal rights in a few states. Amit Shah clearly delineated the difference between Article 370 and Article 371.
Speaking in the meeting, Amit Shah said, “All of the northeast is extremely important to the development of India. But the eastern states, whether it is West Bengal or Bihar, have been left out of the vision of development and it will be our priority to develop these areas if we come to power.”
However, to this, RJD (Rashtriya Janata Dal) leader Manoj Jha said that it is very tough to believe the promises made by Amit Shah on Article 371. Manoj Jha, as reported by ANI, said, “We can see the anomalies coming up in NRC in Assam. I was concerned about Article 370 and Article 371 too. I am not able to believe in Amit Shah’s trust. It would be same with another person, who believes in the Constitution of India.”
The meeting also saw the review of NRC situation in Assam by Amit Shah. Publication of NRC list on 31 August excluded some 19 lakh names out of its purview. This increased the fears among the commoners of the state.
Home Minister also promised to increase the allocation of funds to the north-eastern states in the coming year.
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