Meghalaya Government Suspends New Foreign Trips Amid Global Crisis
Meghalaya Halts New Official Foreign Travel
A file image of Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma (Photo: @SangmaConrad / X)
Shillong, May 28: In response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's request to limit non-essential international travel due to the ongoing crisis in West Asia and its repercussions on global fuel prices, the Meghalaya government has decided to suspend all new official foreign trips.
Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma announced on Wednesday that all new proposals for foreign visits submitted after the Prime Minister's appeal have been put on hold. He also mentioned that he has personally cancelled his own plans for overseas travel.
According to Sangma, "Seven to eight proposals for official foreign trips were received after the PM's appeal, and all of them have been kept on hold," he informed the media.
This decision comes at a time when several state officials, including Meghalaya Assembly Speaker Thomas A. Sangma, are currently abroad on official visits, raising questions about the consistency of the government's stance on travel during this period of economic caution.
When questioned about the ongoing trips, the Chief Minister clarified that these had been approved politically and financially months prior. He stated, "Some of these trips had received clearance three to four months before the Prime Minister's appeal," emphasizing that arrangements had been made well in advance.
Currently, Assembly Speaker Thomas A. Sangma is participating in the 16th Canadian Parliamentary Seminar in Ottawa, Canada, which runs from May 25 to 29.
Describing the current situation as a "difficult time," the Chief Minister asserted that the government is prioritizing the "larger interest of the nation" by halting new foreign travel proposals. He urged citizens to remain vigilant amid the global uncertainty, stating, "Because of the uncertainty, we as individuals need to be prepared."
Additionally, Sangma assured that the government would closely monitor fuel supplies to prevent hoarding that could lead to price increases in the state. He remarked, "We will ensure that there is no hoarding of fuel that could lead to any kind of rise in prices."
While the government has justified the ongoing trips as previously sanctioned, the presence of officials abroad following the Prime Minister's appeal has ignited discussions regarding the appropriateness of official travel during a time of economic restraint.