Itanagar, March 19: Congress chief Rahul Gandhi said today his party will restore the special category status to Arunachal Pradesh and other states in the northeast if elected to power. There are some states in the country which require special status because of their "unique problems and difficulties" such as connectivity, terrain, infrastructure, Mr Gandhi said at an election rally in Itanagar.

During the Congress rule at the Centre, he said, Arunachal Pradesh and other northeastern states used to enjoy special category status. Arunachal Pradesh has a special place in the heart of the Congress party and "we would like to have a 'dil ka rishta' with the people of the state", he said. Citizenship Bill Row Triggers Rahul Gandhi vs Himanta Biswa Sarma on Twitter.

Mr Gandhi said the Congress will not allow the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill to be passed in Rajya Sabha because the bill is "detrimental" to the people of the northeast. "We will not allow the suppression of the people of northeast," he added. The Congress party will never attack the language, culture, customs and tradition of Arunachal Pradesh and other northeastern states, he said.