Can Amit Shah's assurance on northeast special status pacify anti-CAB forces?

GUWAHATI: Union home minister Amit Shah's hint at pursuing the now-lapsed Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) has raised a question - Can the assurance of keeping the special status enjoyed by NE states and legislations protecting the identities of indigenous people intact pacify the forces that had stridently opposed the proposed amendment?
Shah, at the fourth North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) conclave on Monday, had said the CAB will neither affect the special provisions enjoyed by NE states under Article 371, nor it will be in conflict with the existing laws pertaining to safeguarding the identities, culture and customs of indigenous people of the region. The same day, he had a meeting with eight chief ministers of NE states to allay their fears on the CAB. The chief ministers will consult with stakeholders in their respective states before meeting Shah again on the issue.
Even the ruling parties and NEDA constituents, particularly the National People's Party in Meghalaya and Mizo National Front in Mizoram, had threatened to walk out of the NDA then if the bill is passed. The bill, though passed by the Lok Sabha, was not placed in the Rajya Sabha earlier this year amid protest in the region.
However, the recent announcement of revival of CAB did not go down well with organizations that were at the forefront of opposing the proposed legislation that seeks citizenship to persecuted religious minorities from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan who had taken shelter in India till December 31, 2014.
"Union home minister Amit Shah assured to keep intact the special provisions under Article 371 and other legislations that safeguard the culture and identities of indigenous people. But what about the impact on demography that the region will have to face because of the CAB? We cannot accept the CAB in any form," said All Assam Students' Union (Aasu) general secretary Lurinjyoti Gogoi.
Aasu, which was part of the statewide stir against CAB, is now part of the high-powered committee on the implementation of Clause 6 of Assam Accord for giving constitutional safeguards to Assam.
The Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP), Mizoram's powerful student body that had led a strident protest against the CAB earlier, said it will continue to oppose it. "We will oppose CAB more strongly," said MZP president L Ramdinliana Renthlei.
Assam Sanmilita Mahasangha (ASM), a confederation of different indigenous ethnic organisations, said the revival of CAB is nothing more than a political tactic. The ASM said a case is being heard by the constitution bench against the Centre's notification of September, 2015 that paved the way for an ordinance for amending the Citizenship Act by tabling the Citizenship Amendment Bill 2016. The petition was filed by eight intellectuals of the state under ASM in 2016.
"Even if the CAB is revived and passed by Parliament, it will automatically be challenged in the apex court because a case on the citizenship issue is being heard by the constitution bench," said ASM working president Matiur Rahman.