Guwahati: Sivasagar MLA Akhil Gogoi urged that an article 370-like provision be implemented in Assam on Wednesday.
The activist aimed to ensure “constitutional safeguard” for the state’s indigenous people.
The Raijor Dol president said, “We have demanded the Center to implement (provisions like) Article 370 or 371 (A), 371 (F) 371 (J) in Assam to give Constitutional safeguard to the people of the state. The indigenous people of the state will not be safe until Article 370 or 371 (A) like safeguards are implemented.”
Article 370 grants a state exceptional status in terms of autonomy and the authority to enact laws for its permanent citizens. Jammu & Kashmir had such a distinct status till the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Centre abolished it a few years ago.
Furthermore, Article 371 prohibits any act of Parliament from being applied to Nagaland in relation to the Nagas’ religious and social practises, customary law and procedure, administration of civil and criminal justice involving decisions based on Naga customary law, and ownership and transfer of land and its resources, reported ANI.
Gogoi opposed a complete overhaul of the National Register of Citizens (NRC), arguing that it should instead be done in stages.