Mohan Bhagwat Hits Back at Critics of Article 370 Abrogation, Says Northeast States Will Remain Integrated With India
Hyderabad lawmaker Asaduddin Owaisi was at the forefront of critics who alleged that the Centre's ambitious move in Kashmir will lead to anxiety in Northeastern states which have been guaranteed special status under Article 371. 'What message has the government sent to the Northeast? Without any consultation with the due stakeholders, the status of any state could be amended.'
New Delhi, August 20: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Tuesday took a stinging swipe at critics of the government's move to abrogate Article 370 in Jammu & Kashmir. Responding to the charge that the decision has created flutters in Northeast, Bhagwat said all provinces in the region are firmly standing with the Indian Union.
"Fear of whether Northeast states will stay with us or not has always been expressed. It was also said that one day Assam will become Kashmir, but today, people of Assam are standing firmly with India," Bhagwat said while addressing an event in Nagpur. Mohan Bhagwat Reignites Row on Reservation, Calls For 'Harmonious Debate' on Quota Policy
Hyderabad lawmaker Asaduddin Owaisi was at the forefront of critics who alleged that the Centre's ambitious move in Kashmir will lead to anxiety in Northeastern states which have been guaranteed special status under Article 371.
"What message has the government sent to the Northeast? Without any consultation with the due stakeholders, the status of any state could be amended," he said.
Home Minister Amit Shah, while rebutting the Opposition in Lok Sabha earlier this month, attempted to assuage the concerns by putting on record that the Centre has no intention to abrogate Article 371.
"Modi government has no intention to remove Article 371 which gives certain special rights to some Northeast states," Shah had said.
Notably, the Centre had on August 5 issued an executive order repealing Article 370 -- which guaranteed special status to J&K. The provisions of the now-scrapped law included Article 35(A), which allowed the state legislature to define the permanent residents. This clause was used by the successive J&K governments to prevent outsiders from buying property in the state.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 20, 2019 09:04 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).