Arunachal CM Pema Khandu to lead all-party team to Delhi for amending Article 371 (H)

ITANAGAR: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Wednesday informed that he will lead an all-party delegation to New Delhi soon to take up the issue on amendment of Article 371 (H) at par with Article 371 (A) with the Centre.

Responding to a Zero Hour discussion brought in the Assembly by senior Congress MLA Ninong Ering on amendment of the Article 371 (H) to enable Arunachal to get all Constitutional provisions in line with Nagaland, Khandu assured to re-send the resolution adopted in the State Assembly during August 28, 2020, to the Centre as a reminder.

Stating that there is lack of Constitutional provisions for the State as it comes under the purview of Article 371 (H), the Chief Minister informed that the State Assembly, on August 28, 2020, adopted a resolution to persuade the Centre to amend Article 371(H), to protect the rights of its indigenous population.

The Assembly resolved that the special provision with respect to the State be further strengthened by amending Article 371(H) by inserting provisions for protection of religious or social practices of the tribes of the State, customary law and procedure of the State's tribes, administration of civil and criminal justice involving decisions according to customary law of the tribes and ownership and transfer of land and its resources

Article 371(H) has special provisions in respect of the Governor and the total seats in its Assembly. The Article does not ensure full protection to the State's people as it provides no special rights to the indigenous people, as is done in the case of Nagaland and Mizoram, which come under Article 371 (A) and 371 (G).

"We have no laws to protect our tribal rights and customary laws. It is time we need to act strongly for safeguarding our rights," Khandu added.

Initiating the discussion, Ering, a former Union Minister, informed that Article 371 (H) was inserted in the Constitution after Arunachal attained statehood without discussion with the then State leadership.

"The Article did not grant provision of ownership of resources to the tribals like that of Nagaland and Mizoram as the two Northeastern States have freedom on the State's resources," Ering pointed out.

He urged the State Government to rigorously pursue the matter with the Centre with BJP Governments ruling at the Centre and State.

He also requested the three MPs from the State to take up the issue at the appropriate level so that the tribal populations of the State get their legitimate rights.

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