Row over map of China handed out by Gujarat

On Monday, the Gujarat government sent out an official release stating that the map was “not part of the MoU signed”.

A map of China circulated by the Gujarat government to the media after the MoU signing-ceremony with China on September 17 is at the centre of a political storm with the Congress demanding an apology from Prime Minister Modi.

The map was distributed as part of the press kit that was handed out during a special media session when three MoUs were signed between China and the Gujarat government in presence of Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Additional Chief Secretary, Industries and Mines, D J Pandian, was questioned on the boundaries in the map that showed the borders demarcating Arunachal Pradesh with dotted lines after the MoUs were signed. After the conference, when Pandian headed out for refreshments, a journalist asked if the dotted lines on the map was meant to show Arunachal as a disputed area. Pandian had rubbished the suggestion. The map carried similar dotted lines demarcating Aksai Chin and PoK.

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On Monday, the Gujarat government sent out an official release stating that the map was “not part of the MoU signed”.

“The map shows the location of Guangdong Province and Guangzhou City in China. It was neither signed by any government of Gujarat official nor endorsed by government of Gujarat…The map was not part of the MoU,” the state government said in a statement.

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