"After abrogation of Article 370, a lot of rumours were spread that Article 371, too would be abrogated. Today, on the Statehood day of Arunachal Pradesh, I want to tell the people of Northeast that Article 371 would not be touched," he said.

Shah had given the same assurance during his visit to Guwahati in September last year where he took part in a meeting of North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA), the BJP-led anti-Congress front in the region.

The event in Arunachal was attended by governor BD Mishra, Union minister for Development of Northeast Region (DONER) Jitendra Singh, Union sports minister Kiren Rijiju, chief minister Pema Khandu, deputy CM Chowna Mein and convener of NEDA Himanta Biswa Sarma.