Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu put the fear of Article 371H getting tinkered with on rest and assured that the rights are aimed towards developing the backward areas of the state. Khandu addresses the state on the occasion of Independence Day and said that the provisions enshrined in Article 371 are aimed at "protecting the economic and cultural interests" of some states, including Arunachal.

Apprehensions in the north-east have risen after the recent abrogation of the provision of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir. Several organisations and parties also fear that the Centre may tinker with special status according to their states despite a clarification by Home Minister Amit Shah who said that the centre had no such intention.