By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, July 26: Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong on Friday asserted that he does not care about the recent advisory issued by the United States of America asking its citizens not to visit Meghalaya owing to occasional acts of violence.
Reacting to the advisory issued by the U.S., Tynsong said that no authority can create a scenario like this just because of a few incidents.
“If you want, check the history over one or two years,” he said while adding that such stray incidents keep on occurring everywhere.
“I don’t care as people keep coming to Meghalaya and we are ready to welcome anyone,” he said while adding that people not only from India but also from abroad come to Meghalaya.
He instructed stakeholders to take the responsibility of welcoming people but asked them to show due respect to the laws of the state government and the district council.
The U.S. recently revised its travel advisory for India, highlighting specific regions with increased risk due to crime and terrorism. Among these regions, Meghalaya has been placed under a Level 3 advisory, with Washington urging travellers to reconsider their plans.
The State Department’s updated advisory categorises India at Level 2, it designates specific regions, including Jammu and Kashmir, the India-Pakistan border, Manipur, and parts of central and eastern India, at Level 4, advising against travel.
For the Northeastern states, including Meghalaya, the advisory recommends reconsidering travel due to potential threats from ethnic insurgent groups. These groups occasionally commit violent acts, such as bombings targeting public transport and market places. While there have been no recent reports of violence in several Northeastern states, caution is still advised, it said.