Dimapur, Nov 19: The Nagaland government has urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah to exempt the state from the Protected Area Permit (PAP) system, seeking relaxed guidelines ahead of the Hornbill Festival, the state’s biggest annual cultural event.
In a letter to the Home Minister, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio said the re-imposition of PAP in March this year—covering Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram—was based on national security concerns following the Meitei-Kuki conflict in Manipur and the influx of refugees from Myanmar into Mizoram. However, he argued that Nagaland’s situation is fundamentally different.
Rio emphasised that Nagaland has been experiencing “one of the most peaceful periods since statehood,” with no major security concerns. He added that the India–Myanmar border areas in Nagaland continue to remain calm, supported by “homogenous ethnicity and close familial and social ties” between communities on both sides, with no reports of refugee influx into the state.
“While the situation in Manipur and Mizoram may warrant stringent measures, Nagaland’s ground realities are distinct,” Rio wrote, urging the Centre to reconsider applying the PAP regime to the state.
The PAP system requires foreign nationals to obtain special permits and register with the Foreigners Registration Officer in addition to holding a valid visa. The Nagaland government fears this may deter international visitors ahead of the Hornbill Festival, which annually draws tourists from across India and abroad.
Meanwhile, in a separate development, the state government has designated Air India Express as the official Travel Partner for the Hornbill Festival 2025. The festival, one of India’s most celebrated cultural showcases, attracts thousands of visitors eager to experience the rich heritage and traditions of the Naga tribes.
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