CAB won’t interfere with customary laws of NE: Union Home Minister Amit Shah

“I want to assure all of you that your tribal customary laws will exist as earlier there will be no change in it and the special provision of article 371 won’t be tinkered with,” Shah said while addressing the fourth conclave of the North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) here which saw attendance from all the eight chief ministers of the region.

Calming nerves of Chief Minister of Meghalaya Conrad Sangma, Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga and Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphu Rio who raised several uncomfortable questions for NDA over CAB, Shah said, “Mr Sangma speaks loud and clear….and he raised all his worries about CAB here…it is good. I want to clear the air here in no way your tribal laws will be touched if CAB is implemented. We are here for protection of your indigenous culture.”

Allying concerns of the North Eastern states abut continuous infiltration from Bangladesh if CAB is passed, Shah said the cut-off date for applying Indian citizenship will remain December 31, 2014 and it won’t go beyond that limit.

On the issue of NRC, Shah said illegal migrant will not be allowed to stay in the country or move out to any neighboring states.

“We have all planning about it no one could stay illegally in the country or will be allowed to move other states,” Shah said.

Delving on the other important issue of unification, Shah said North East India is geo cultural entity and between all the states of the region there is a cultural connect which binds them all.

“Eight states of the region have accepted us. We have not come here for political destination but for development destination,” Shah said adding that Congress was solely responsible for underdevelopment and promoting insurgency in the region for its political interests.

Shah also urged all the chief ministers of the state who are part of NEDA, to resolve the contentious inter-state border issue through dialogue.

“If we can solve the issue of border with Bangladesh…..why can’t we do it here among ourselves,” Shah said.

On the development front Shah exhorted all the Chief Minister of the region to come up with a single tourism policy of the North East region reap the benefit of tourism potential in the region.

“Present the entire tourism potential of the region in one plate not part wise. And that can be done if all the tourism minister of different states of the region come together and devise a single tourism policy,” Shah said.