Rio appeals NE states to decide on RAP

Kohima, Apr 28 (UNI) Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has urged the Centre to provide full authority to the NE states on the issue of Restricted Area Permit (RAP) and Protected Area permit (PAP).

The RAP and PAP had been prescribed by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

Addressing the Fourth Sectoral Summit of the North Eastern Council (NEC) at Gangtok yesterday, Mr Rio said most of the Foreign Missions abroad as well as Foreign Embassies in New Delhi have very little or no knowledge reagarding the region.

'' They are being guided by the general perception of insecurity in the region,'' he informed.

The Chief Minister also opined that Centre should not have let MHA to issue RAP or PAP.

''It is also known that the MHA does not normally carry out separate and independent inquiries about the antecedents of the tourists applying for RAP or PAP,'' he stated.

UNI