Congress slams Gujarat government, demands apology from PM Narendra Modi for depicting Arunachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir as disputed territory

Congress on Monday slammed Gujarat government and demanded an "apology" from PM Narendra Modi alleging that an official of the Gujarat government, while signing three MoUs with a province of China in the presence of Modi a few days back, had distributed a handout showing Arunachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir as disputed territory.

Abhishek Manu Singhvi said the map showed Aksai Chin as part of China while Arunachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir were shown in dotted lines, which implied that they were disputed regions.

"This is a very serious matter because the goof-up took place in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi,"  Singhvi said. 

"Before the elections, he (Modi) talked about not letting the country down. I would now ask him to walk the talk," he said. "Don't humiliate the country," he added.

"Now the question arises whether in the MoU too, has this particular map (showing Arunachal Pradesh as disputed territory) been shown. Modi during his election campaign in Arunachal Pradesh made rhetorical speech and promised that he will not allow the country to bow down and and will not allow even an inch of the country's land to go away.

"In this MoU, Arunachal Pradesh has been shown as a disputed territory. The Prime Minister should apologise for this major lapse and blunder," party general secretary Ajay Maken said on his blog.

The incident took place during a meeting on September 17 in New Delhi in which three MoUs were signed between the government of Gujarat and Gaundang province of China in presence of Modi during which the Additional Chief Secretary of the state D Pandian had distributed a handout showing map of Gaundong province.

(With agency inputs)