UnionMinister of State for Development of North Eastern Region, Jitendra Singh onFriday rejected the fears of Article 371 of the Constitution which has specialprovisions for other states, mostly from the Northeast.
Article371 is the next in line to be scrapped after the Modi government's move onArticle 370 that gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir.
Singhin a tweet on Friday morning said, "North East has nothing to fear, Art 371will stay as it is."
UnionHome Minister Amit Shah also allayed the fears about Article 371 who moved theresolution to scrap Article 370 for Jammu and Kashmir.
Drawinga comparison between the two Article 370 and 371, Shah made it clear sayingthat there was no comparison between the two Article and that attempt was beingmade to mislead country and public. He also said that there was no intention ofthe government to remove Article 371 which gives certain special rights to someNortheast states.
Article371 (G) of the Constitution states that the Parliament cannot decide on thematters of the religious and social practices of the Mizos, civil and criminallaw of the land, land ownership transfer and customary law procedure withoutthe consent of the Assembly while Article 371 A states that no act ofParliament shall apply to the state of Nagaland in respect of the religious orsocial practices of the Nagas, its customary law and procedure, administrationof civil and criminal justice involving decisions according to Naga customarylaw and ownership and transfer of land and its resources. It shall apply toNagaland only after the state Assembly passes a resolution to do so.
