‘Will Not Tamper With Article 371’: In Assam, Amit Shah explains how Article 371 is different from 370

Union Home Minister Amit Shah affirmed that the Centre will not touch Article 371 which grants special provisions to the North East. Article 371 of the Indian Constitution is applicable to the Northeast and not a single illegal immigrant would be allowed in the region.

While addressing the 68th plenary session of the North East Council Amit Shah said that Article 370 was clearly temporary in nature but Article 371 is about special provisions in the North East and there is a vast difference between the two.

“I have clarified in Parliament that this is not going to happen and I am saying it again today in the presence of eight chief ministers of the Northeast that both the Articles are different and the Centre will not touch Article 371,” Amit Shah said.

“I think it is important to clarify the difference between the two. Let me make it clear that the Prime Minister and the BJP government respects Article 371 and 371 (A). There was an attempt to give a wrong message that the BJP-led government would scrap Article 371 and this was done by people who did not want peace in the Northeast or the region to become an engine of development, Amit hah said.

On the National Register of Citizens (NRC), Amit Shah said, “Questions are being raised about the NRC by different sections but today, I just want to say this that the BJP-led government is committed to ensure that not a single illegal immigrant enters the region.”

“There are still misguided people who indulge in armed activities but our minds are open and hands stretched for those who want to lay down arms. For those who want to continue, the governments at the Centre and the state will follow a zero-tolerance policy,” he said.