'Article 371H Not to be Revoked by Centre': Arunachal CM Pema Khandu

Itanagar, August 17, 2019:

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Thursday allayed fears of revocation of the special provisions of Article 371H, which applies to the state of Arunachal, and said "the rights are aimed at developing the backward areas of the state".

In his address, on the occasion of India's 73rd Independence Day in capital city Itanagar, Khandu said the provisions enshrined in Article 371 are aimed at “protecting the economic and cultural interests” of some states, including Arunachal.

However, Khandu justified the abrogation of Article 370 (which provided special rights to the residents of Jammu and Kashmir) by saying, "The provisions of Article 371 are inclusive in nature, but that of Article 370 are primarily divisive."

Khandu also assured the people during his address that "the provisions of Article 371-H will continue to stay in force and the same had been categorically assured in the Parliament by the Centre."

"We have to put in our best efforts to make Arunachal Pradesh one of the best-administered and -governed states in the country in line with the prime minister’s mantra of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas aur Sabka Vishwas", Khandu said.

It is to be mentioned that as per the provisions of Article 371H, the Governor has a special responsibility with regard to law and order, and “he shall, after consulting the Council of Ministers, exercise his individual judgment as to the action to be taken”.

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