US travel advisory linking Meghalaya with terrorism ‘incorrect', says CM Conrad Sangma
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Tuesday asserted that the travel advisory issued by the United States linking the state and the northeastern region with terrorism and violence is incorrect, and he would take up the matter with the US Ambassador to India. Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma said he would be meeting the US Ambassador to India in this regard.(PTI/File Image)
Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong also asserted that the state is the safest place in the world for tourists.
The US government had recently issued an advisory asking its citizens to reconsider visiting Meghalaya and other northeastern states due to terrorism and violence.
Permission is not required if employees are travelling only to the capital cities of these states, it said.
"The US Embassy has given a completely wrong status to Meghalaya and the North East as a whole. I do not think the notification is correct," Sangma told PTI.
The chief minister said he would be meeting the US Ambassador to India in this regard.
"I will be presenting facts and figures to the US Ambassador as well as to the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of External Affairs," he said.
Responding to the advisory, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong said, "It's unfortunate that the US has issued such an advisory. We don't know where they collect their information from to place Meghalaya in that category."
Tynsong, who also holds the Home portfolio, defended the state's record on safety and hospitality.
"Meghalaya is one of the safest places in the world, and people of the state are known for their hospitality," he told PTI.
Tynsong said people who have not visited Meghalaya and met the people may have all sorts of doubts.
"Talk to those who have visited Meghalaya and met the hardworking people living in the beautiful villages of the state. These are the real ambassadors," he said.
Tourism Minister Paul Lyngdoh said the state is expected to host 20 lakh visitors this year, and the tourism department has charted a calendar of events for the entire year, with events like the Cherry Blossom Festivals.
The state government has also initiated a programme to induct 'Tourist Buddies' who will assist travellers at major locations.
"The state is recruiting 50 Tourist Buddies in the state capital itself, where they will be stationed at key tourist locations such as Wards Lake, Golf Links, and Khyndai Lad," Lyngdoh said.
A senior tourism officer told PTI that the state government plans to invest over ₹ 1,000 crore to boost the tourism sector.
He said the sector provides employment to over 50,000 people directly and indirectly and is one of the largest job providers in Meghalaya, second only to the state government which employs over 85,000 people.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
27 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Reimagining Quad in the shadow of Trump
The first diplomatic engagement of the Trump Administration in January, soon after it settled in office, was to host the Quad foreign ministers in Washington D.C. The joint statement of the four maritime democracies (India, Japan, Australia and the US) committed to strengthening 'regional maritime, economic, and technology security in the region' as well as 'promoting reliable and resilient supply chains'. Regular meetings were promised in preparation of the Quad Leaders' Summit that India was to host in September. However, Quad foreign ministers meet today in Washington D.C. acutely aware that the sense of euphoria and continuity that distinguished the January 21 meeting has made way for uncertainty. The Quad Leaders' Summit has been postponed and questions loom over the bloc's future as the US under President Trump pursues its unilateral agendas on global trade, security, and economic development. The challenge before the leaders is to reaffirm the stated goals of the bloc, source funds and build capacities to deliver them. At a time when power blocs unravel and nations take refuge in bilateral arrangements to protect national interests, Quad must not lose sight of its long-term priorities. (PTI) Trump 2.0 has been relatively indifferent to multilateral blocs. The US pivot to bilateralism on issues as varied as trade and the climate crisis has influenced the Quad members to align agendas with the Trump administration's preferences. The 2024 Wilmington Declaration, for instance, stressed on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief as a Quad goal. With Washington curtailing its spending on global aid, the focus now is now exclusively on disaster relief. Similarly, the Quad Cancer Moonshot, which was to see a major Indian involvement, seems to be less of a priority now. Delhi's ongoing trade talks with Washington may even influence the scheduling of the Quad Leaders' summit. The considerations that led to the formation of Quad a decade ago remain. At a time when power blocs unravel and nations take refuge in bilateral arrangements to protect national interests, Quad must not lose sight of its long-term priorities, especially a free and open Indo-Pacific, commitment to a rules-based order, and trade. As for India, it is also an opportunity to firm up ties with Japan and Australia, especially in the backdrop of Operation Sindoor and the churn in the neighbourhood.
Hans India
40 minutes ago
- Hans India
From patrol vessels to air defence systems, Brazil keen on acquiring India's indigenous innovations
New Delhi: As India continues to march ahead in pursuit of defence indigenisation and self-reliance, Brazil has shown keen interest in acquiring indigenous defence innovations, discussions on which are likely to be held during Prime Minister's Narendra Modi's visit to the Latin American nation starting July 6, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated on Monday. "Yes, there are going to be discussions on defence cooperation and enhancing it with Brazil. We are looking at avenues for joint research, technology sharing, and training exchanges. We are still in talks about what kind of cooperation is possible and what kind of defence platforms we can sell to Brazil, but there has not been much progress yet. Broadly, we have identified a few areas that seem to be of interest to the Brazilian side," MEA's Secretary East P. Kumaran told reporters during a media briefing ahead of PM's visit. PM Modi will be on a five-nation visit starting July 2. He will be arriving in Rio de Janeiro for the 17th BRICS Leaders' Summit in the fourth leg of his visit after Ghana (July 2-3), Trinidad and Tobago (July 3-4) and Argentina (July 4-5). After attending the BRICS Summit at the invitation of Brazillian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, PM Modi will travel to Brasilia for the State Visit and will hold bilateral discussions on the broadening of the strategic partnership between the two countries in areas of mutual interest, including trade, defence, energy, space, technology, agriculture, health and people-to-people linkages. "They (Brazil) are interested in secured communication systems on the battlefield, they are also interested in Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs). Brazil has Scorpene submarines, they are interested in partnering with us in maintaining those submarines. They also seem to be interested in the Akash Air Defence Systems and Coastal Surveillance System, Garuda Artillery Guns. They are also interested in defence industry joint ventures with us, joint R&D and co-development of systems. We also use the Embraer platform to develop reconnaissance systems on top of that.. So, there is a lot of potential for us to work with Brazil given their strength in aircraft industry in general," Secretary Kumaran said on Monday. India and Brazil have been involved in joint collaboration to develop Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft besides Embraer, a Brazilian aerospace company, and Mahindra signing an MoU to collaborate on the C-390 Millennium multi-mission transport aircraft. Like several other nations, including from Latin America, Brazil too has been showing a keen interest in acquiring Indian defence equipment as the government led by Prime Minister Modi has transformed the country's defence capabilities over the past 11 years. India's defence exports crossed the record figure of about Rs 24,000 crore in Financial Year 2024-25 with the government aiming at increasing the figure to Rs 50,000 crore by 2029. With PM Modi and President Lula having met four times since 2023, strategic partners India and Brazil have consolidated bilateral ties through several institutional mechanisms including Joint Commission Meeting, Strategic Dialogue, Foreign Office Consultations, Trade Monitoring Mechanism and other joint working groups. Prime Minister Modi visited Brazil in November 2024 for the G20 Summit and the forthcoming trip to the country would be the fourth visit of Prime Minister since 2014. President Lula had also extended support against terrorism during a telephonic call with Prime Minister Modi on last month, following the heinous April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.
Mint
42 minutes ago
- Mint
India Inc must play crucial role in inclusive & environmentally responsible growth: HUL chairman
New Delhi, June 30 (PTI) India Inc must play a responsible role for "inclusive and environmentally responsible" growth of the country, even as the government is taking steps for that, said HUL Chairman Nitin Paranjpe has said. To become a developed nation, India should chart a path that prioritises economic growth alongside environmental sustainability and social progress, he said while addressing the shareholders in the 92nd AGM of the leading FMCG maker. "While the government is taking significant steps, 'India Inc.' must play a crucial role in ensuring this growth is inclusive and environmentally responsible," he said. In his speech titled 'Building a Winning Business in an Aspiring India', Paranjpe reflected on the evolving business landscape, noting that while India offers immense opportunities, it is equally important to address the challenges that accompany this growth. The world today is characterised by "uncertainty and chaos," however Indian economy is continuing its growth journey. "However, amidst this incomprehensibility, the Indian economy appears poised to continue its path to sustainable and inclusive growth," he said. Paranjpe called period from 2014 to 2024 as the "decade of India's economic resurgence" which aligns with the vision of a 'Viksit Bharat' (Develope India) by 2047. "Achieving zero poverty, quality education for all, affordable healthcare, meaningful skilled employment, and becoming the world's food basket are ambitious yet achievable milestones in India's journey to becoming an advanced economy," he said. Elaborating India growth journey Paranjpe said 'several tailwinds will help achieve this, including a strong digital infrastructure, a conducive policy environment, and a burgeoning young population.' He called out India's Digital Public Infrastructure as one of its greatest future advantages, and hailed the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) for levelling the playing field for kirana walas and retailers across the nation. At the same time, he mentioned that getting sellers and resellers to leverage e-commerce and improve India's e-retail penetration is a tall order. Hinting towards growing premiuimisation, Paranjpe said the Indian consumer is evolving, seeking newer products, better experiences, and aspiring for more. "As a business serving the needs of an ever-aspiring consumer and partner to a nation focused on its growth, we bear significant responsibility. The new India presents several opportunities that we can leverage to leapfrog into the future," he said. Pranjape also added, HUL like other makers is witnessing 'unprecedented' technological advancements, where Artificial Intelligence (AI) is taking over everything from searches to product design to farming, bio-mimetic inspired design, driverless vehicles and Mars missions to science utilising bugs for cleaning homes. "Technology is, and will continue to be, a primary driver shaping our future," he said, adding HUL is "building capabilities to cater to the needs of an evolving and aspiring India". Simultaneously, the maker of popular brands as Rin, Lux, Surf Excel, Pond's, Dove, Horlicks, Bru, Lipton etc is also ensuring that its growth journey does not negatively impact the environment and leaves no one behind.
