Photo Courtesy: nenow
Shillong: Veteran journalist Patricia Mukhim fired back at Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma this week. She rejected claims that her recent writing on Meghalaya tourism targeted visitors from Assam. The dispute began after Mukhim published an article titled Meghalaya Can Do Without Maggie Noodle Tourism. She argued for a sustainable policy to fix traffic jams and pollution in Shillong.
Mukhim wants visitors to stay longer and boost the local economy. She criticized day-trippers who arrive in the morning and leave by night. These tourists dump trash and congestion on locals while spending almost nothing. Sarma hit back during a press event in New Delhi on Wednesday. He claimed Mukhim’s words could incite public anger against Assam residents. The Chief Minister suggested his state should boost local travel sites like Diphu, Haflong, and Umrangso instead.
Mukhim dismissed the accusation that she was being anti-Assam. She noted that her piece never named a specific community. The journalist pointed to a viral video involving one individual speaking a certain language as the true source of the online friction. She blasted Sarma for linking that video to her column, calling his response very unbecoming of a chief minister. She stated, "The issue was not about complaining against tourists but about the need for Meghalaya to determine how many visitors it could accommodate each day through a sustainable tourism policy."
The Meghalaya government holds the duty to fix these issues. Mukhim urged officials to talk with tour operators and regular citizens. She also addressed critics who attacked her Padma Shri award. She earned the honor for anti-militancy work during the Shillong We Care campaign. People wanting it revoked can take it up with the Government of India, she said. Meanwhile, she called for formal dialogue to settle border disputes between the two states. She firmly rejected the use of highway blockades as a tool for protest.
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