Shillong, Oct 19: Meghalaya Tourism Minister Paul Lyngdoh on Thursday said the Cherry Blossom Festival is not meant for anybody who does not take to the idea of such festival and that the government is not imposing anything.

Earlier, JAC Ri Bhoi wanted to meet the tourism minister but were unable to meet due to his tight schedule. The pressure groups are demanding the government to shift the date of the concluding day of the festival from November 19, 2023, to another date since the day is a Sunday.

Lyngdoh clarified that the idea and the whole concept of the cherry blossom festival is that 90% of the footfall that happens during such festivals are tourists from outside the state and that also includes international tourists.

“Infact for Ri-Bhoi District to grow we’ve chosen a venue within that district because a lot of opportunities will be open in terms of people doing business, having stalls, having the shops and taxis, other forms of transportation, they all will be gainfully engaged,” said Lyngdoh.

He further argued that if this section of people is opposing the festival stating that Sunday is a ‘holy’ day then what about Seven Day Adventist, won’t they oppose it being held on a Saturday since it is a holy day for them. “And if you have it on a Friday, Muslims will object. It’s holy for us, then how do you run a state in that manner?” asked the minister.

He added that the problem here is that a section of people thinks that they are more intelligent than the people they have elected.

He further claimed that there is a political motive behind this since the festival has been organised on a Sunday in the past. “I suspect there is a political motive behind this move, that there are forces who are trying to impede the growth of tourism,” reasoned Lyngdoh.

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