Nagaland Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio has urged Union Home Minister, Amit Shah to personally intervene for the immediate and complete withdrawal of the Protected Area Permit (PAP) regime from Nagaland, saying its continued application was adversely affecting the State’s development aspirations, tourism and international engagement.
In a letter to Shah, Rio said the Nagaland Legislative Assembly had recently deliberated extensively on the issue and unanimously adopted a resolution appealing to the Government of India to review and withdraw the PAP regime and restore the relaxation that had earlier been in operation.
He said the resolution reflected the united position of the elected representatives of the people, while concern over the issue had also been expressed by civil society organisations, tribal bodies, tourism stakeholders, entrepreneurs, the business community and the youth.
Rio said the State Government and Cabinet had taken up the matter with the Centre on several occasions and conveyed their willingness to establish appropriate mechanisms, including technology-enabled systems, for registration, regulation and monitoring of foreign visitors in coordination with the Ministry of Home Affairs and other agencies.
Maintaining that Nagaland was today among the most peaceful States in the country, Rio said the ceasefire and ongoing peace process had brought significant peace, stability and tranquility over the years. He said a new generation of Nagaland had grown up with aspirations centred on education, entrepreneurship, tourism, sports, innovation and the creative economy.
The Chief Minister particularly highlighted the impact of PAP on tourism, saying the sector had emerged as an important pillar of the State’s economy and a significant source of livelihood and employment for the youth.
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He said the Hornbill Festival had grown into one of the most recognised tourism events associated with the Incredible India campaign, attracting visitors from across India and abroad and providing a platform for cultural exchanges, investment discussions, business engagements and institutional collaborations.
However, Rio said the PAP regime had begun to undermine these achievements. He pointed out that in 2025, relaxation of PAP was granted only for the period coinciding with the Hornbill Festival despite repeated requests from the State Government and various sections of Naga society.
While appreciating the Centre’s intervention, Rio said such limited relaxation had little practical benefit for international tourism as foreign visitors plan journeys, book tickets and accommodation and finalise itineraries weeks or months in advance.
He said the restrictions also affected official visits by diplomats, representatives of partner countries, investors, development agencies and international institutions, besides complicating efforts to organise international festivals, investment meetings, cultural exchanges and sporting events involving overseas participation.
“At a time when States are being encouraged to compete for investments, build international partnerships, promote tourism and contribute to India’s global outreach, such restrictions place Nagaland at a distinct disadvantage,” Rio said.
He argued that a regulatory regime conceived in a different historical and security environment should not become an impediment to the developmental aspirations of a peaceful State.
Referring to the progressive reduction and withdrawal of extraordinary security measures, including the reduction of areas covered under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, Rio said the continued application of PAP in Nagaland was increasingly difficult for people to understand.
He warned that its continuation could create avoidable frustration and a sense of alienation, particularly among the youth aspiring to participate fully in opportunities emerging from India’s growth and its expanding engagement with the world.
Rio therefore sought Shah’s “personal intervention” for the immediate and complete withdrawal of PAP from Nagaland, while assuring that the State Government remained committed to working closely with the MHA and other agencies to establish appropriate registration, monitoring and security mechanisms.
He said such arrangements could ensure that legitimate national security considerations remained fully safeguarded while allowing Nagaland to pursue greater tourism, investment and international engagement.
The Chief Minister expressed hope that the Union Government would favourably consider the unanimous appeal of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly and the collective voice of the people of the State.
