Kohima | Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has urged the Centre to withdraw the Protected Area Permit (PAP) regime from the state, saying its continuation is affecting Nagaland’s development prospects and efforts to expand economic and cultural engagement with the rest of India and the world.

In a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday, Rio said the Nagaland Legislative Assembly had extensively deliberated on the issue during its recently concluded session and unanimously adopted a resolution seeking withdrawal of the PAP regime.

The Chief Minister said the resolution reflected the collective position of elected representatives across the Assembly. Rio highlighted the state’s peaceful environment, saying the ceasefire and ongoing peace process had contributed significantly to maintaining peace, stability and tranquillity in Nagaland over the years.

He also pointed to tourism as an important pillar of the state’s economy and a major source of livelihood and employment, particularly for young people.

However, Rio said the continuation of the PAP regime had complicated the state government’s efforts to organise international festivals, investment meetings, cultural exchanges, sporting events and other programmes involving overseas participants.He urged Shah to intervene and consider the immediate and complete withdrawal of the PAP regime from Nagaland.

Rio assured the Centre that the state government would work closely with the Ministry of Home Affairs and other agencies to establish an appropriate monitoring and security mechanism. He said legitimate national security concerns would be fully safeguarded while facilitating greater engagement and development opportunities for the state