Gujarat government goofs up, shows Arunachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir as disputed, Aksai Chin as part of China

In a major goof-up by Gujarat government, while signing three MoUs with the China's Gaundang province on September 17 in presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and visiting Chinese President Xi Jingpin, attached and later circulated a map showing Arunachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir, as disputed territories and Aksai Chin as part of China.

These MoUs related to establishing 'Sister Province' relations between Guangdong province of China and Gujarat where cooperation is envisaged in economy, trade, environmental protection, public policy education, health, science and technology, tourism and culture. Other one between Chinese city of Guangzhou and Ahmedabad envisaged for closer cooperation between the local authorities of the two cities. The third agreement related to Industrial Extension Bureau (iNDEXTb), the nodal agency for investment promotion in Gujarat and China Development Bank (CBD), under which iNDEXTb will assist Chinese investors in obtaining required clearances and creating infrastructure facilities in the industrial parks in Gujarat.

The Additional chief secretary D J Pandian who held a press conference in Ahmedabad to announce contents of the MoUs distributed the handouts along with maps. The opposition Congress, which took up the issue on Monday, four days after the Chinese President completed his tour, demanded an "apology" from the Prime Minister Modi. " Modi during his election campaign in Arunachal Pradesh made rhetorical speech and promised that he will not allow the country to bow down andwill not allow even an inch of the country's land to go away. But in this MoU, Arunachal Pradesh has been shown as a disputed territory. The Prime Minister should apologise for this major lapse and blunder," said party spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi.

The Opposition also made a scathing attack on Modi government for repeated Chinese incursions too. Singhvi said the incursions by China were brazen and blatant and absolutely unacceptable. Accusing the government of "treating a very serious issue lightly", Singhvi rued that there is "no statement either from the Prime Minister or anybody else sufficiently senior and high in government hierarchy". "We demand that the Prime Minister must make a proper statement on the issue and unequivocally and firmly write to the Chinese President a strongly worded letter, which should be made public," Singhvi said, asking Modi to "walk the talk"