NE edgy over Art. 371G

Lal Thanhawla

TT, 07 Aug 2019, Guwahati: Concern over the future of Article 371 that gives northeastern states special status was raised in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, a day after the Centre scrapped Article 370 taking away Jammu and Kashmir's special status and statehood.

Article 371 gives special provisions to five northeastern states -- Nagaland (371A), Assam (371B), Manipur (371C), Mizoram (371G) and Arunachal Pradesh (371H).

"By abrogating Article 370 what message are you sending to those states? You abrogate 370 today, you will abrogate 371 tomorrow. What kind of constitutional precedence are you going to establish in this country?" Congress MP Manish Tewari asked the BJP while taking part in a debate on Article 370.

In Guwahati, veteran Congress leader Tarun Gogoi said, "Tomorrow, the Centre may question the special provisions for northeasten states. Who can guarantee that it will not happen?" Gogoi described abrogation of Article 370 as a "historic blunder" done in the most anti-democratic and dictatorial way. "The problems of Jammu and Kashmir will not be resolved in this way. Rather, it will increase. Just wait for a few days," he said.

He also pointed out that the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir had triggered the demand for Union Territory by BPF MP Biswajit Daimary.

In Christian-dominated Mizoram, some intellectuals and politicians were apprehensive that the Centre's move may increase the demand for Union Territory by minority Chakmas.

Lallianchhunga, assistant professor of political science in Mizoram University, said abrogation of Article 370 can have two effects in Mizoram -- fan the demand for Union Territory status by Chakmas and the right to purchase land may be opened to outsiders.

Article 371G says no act of the President in respect of religious or social practices of the Mizos, their customary laws and procedures, administration of civil and criminal justice and ownership and transfer of land, shall apply to Mizoram without the consent of the state legislature.

State Congress president Lal Thanhawla took to Twitter to sound "red alert" for the people of the Northeast. The party said the inner-line permit system, which protects the state from outsiders, can come under threat.

Zoram People's Movement and People's Representation for Identity and Status of Mizoram said the Centre's move violated the Constitution's federal spirit.

However, home minister Amit Shah told the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday that the Centre has no intention of scrapping the special status of the northeastern states..