The Center will not remove Article 371, will not release illegal immigrants: Amit Shah

(PTI) Guwahati, Ta. September 8, 2019, Sunday

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Sunday that the central government would not release any illegal settlers in the region unless it removes the constitutional Article 4 applicable in the eastern states.

After the abolition of Article 2 in Jammu and Kashmir, efforts are being made to spread false information among those who will be abolished in the North Eastern States, the Union Home Minister said while addressing a session of the North-East Council (NEC).

Amit Shah said that he had made it clear in Parliament that Article 3 will not be abolished from the North Eastern state and he once again said in the presence of eight Chief Ministers of the North Eastern States that the two clauses are different and the Center will not touch Article 2. Article 2 is a provisional provision in the Constitution, but Article 4 is a special provision applicable to the states of the North and there is a great deal of distance between the two.

Amit Shah added that he believes it is important to clarify the distance between the two. Prime Minister Modi and the BJP government honor Article 2 and 3 (a).

Under Article 4, most states of the North are covered and the purpose of giving special status to these states is to preserve their tribal culture. Attempts are being made to spread the wrong message that the BJP government will remove Article 2 from the eastern states. This false information is being spread by people who do not want peace and development in the eastern states.

The Home Minister said that some classes are questioning the National Register of Citizens (NRC), but they want to say that the BJP-led government will not allow even one illegal immigrant to enter the eastern states.

Also, the NRC's operations will be completed within a certain time limit. Amit Shah's visit to the northeastern state is very important just a few days after the NRC final list was announced on August 7th in Assam.

He added that terrorist activities in Prime Minister Modi's government have decreased significantly. Many of the misguided people in the eastern states are still involved in terrorist activities, but we are free to welcome those willing to lay down their weapons. While those who want to be involved in terrorist activities, the central and state governments will continue to adopt zero tolerance policy.