DIMAPUR, SEP 11 (NPN): Nagaland chief minister Dr Neiphiu Rio has urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah to review and withdraw the Protected Area Permit (PAP) regime in Nagaland, following the unanimous resolution adopted by the Nagaland Legislative Assembly on the issue.
Rio made the appeal in a letter dates September 11, 2026, addressed to Amit Shah, urging the Government of India to urgently review and withdraw the PAP regime in the state.
Rio and deputy chief minister Yanthungo Patton met Amit Shah in New Delhi on Friday and discussed matters concerning Nagaland, including the state’s development priorities and the welfare and aspirations of its people.
In a post on X, Rio said he had called on the Union home minister along with Patton to seek his intervention and support in fast-tracking Nagaland’s developmental aspirations.
Rio expressed gratitude to Shah for his continued guidance and support towards Nagaland’s progress and development.
Patton, in a separate post on X, said they had a “meaningful discussion” with Shah on matters concerning Nagaland, including the state’s development priorities and the welfare and aspirations of the people.
He also expressed gratitude to the Union home minister for his time and continued attention towards Nagaland.
In his D.O. letter to Shah, Rio said the Assembly had extensively deliberated on the matter during its recent session and unanimously appealed to the Government of India to urgently review and withdraw the PAP regime presently applicable to Nagaland 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 civil society organisations, tribal bodies, tourism stakeholders, entrepreneurs, the business community and youth had also expressed widespread concern over the continuation of the regime.
According to Rio, the PAP regime was adversely affecting Nagaland’s developmental aspirations, economic integration and engagement with the rest of the country and the world.
He said the State Cabinet had also deliberated on the issue and resolved against the reimposition of the PAP regime, while urging the Centre for its early withdrawal.
Rio said the state government had consistently conveyed its willingness to put in place appropriate mechanisms, including technology-enabled systems, for registration, regulation and monitoring of foreign visitors in coordination with the Ministry of Home Affairs and other concerned agencies.
Describing Nagaland as “amongst the most peaceful States in the country”, Rio said the ceasefire and ongoing peace process had brought peace, stability and tranquillity over the years.
He said a new generation had grown up with aspirations centred around education, entrepreneurship, tourism, sports, the creative economy, innovation and engagement with the wider world.
Rio particularly highlighted the impact of PAP on tourism, saying the sector had emerged as an increasingly important pillar of Nagaland’s economy and a significant source of livelihood and employment, especially for youth.
He said the Hornbill Festival had grown into one of the recognised flagship tourism events associated with the Incredible India campaign and attracted visitors from across India and around the world. Several countries had also participated as Partner Countries, using the 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 was granted only for the period coinciding with the Hornbill Festival despite repeated requests from the state government and representations from 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, purchase tickets, arrange accommodation and finalise itineraries weeks and months in advance.
He said the impact extended beyond tourism, creating difficulties in facilitating official visits by diplomats, representatives of Partner Countries, investors, development agencies and international institutions with which the state government was pursuing engagements.
The regime had also complicated efforts to organise international festivals, investment meetings, cultural exchanges, sporting events and other programmes involving overseas participation, he said.
Rio said that at a time when states were being encouraged to compete for investments, build international partnerships, promote tourism and contribute to India’s global outreach, such restrictions placed Nagaland at a distinct disadvantage.
He argued that a regulation 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 in the Northeast, including the substantial reduction in 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 cautioned that its continuation risked creating avoidable frustration and a sense of alienation, particularly among youth aspiring to participate fully in opportunities emerging from India’s growth and increasing engagement with the world.
Rio therefore urged Shah and the Government of India to favourably consider the unanimous appeal of the Assembly and the collective voice of the people of Nagaland.
He reiterated that the Nagaland government remained committed to working closely with the MHA and concerned agencies to establish appropriate registration, monitoring and security mechanisms deemed necessary, while ensuring that legitimate national-security considerations were safeguarded.
