ITANAGAR, Sept 10: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu has condemned a recently published United Nations map that depicted Arunachal Pradesh separately from India, calling the portrayal unacceptable and asserting that the state is an integral part of the country.
Reacting to the map, Khandu said on behalf of the people of Arunachal Pradesh that he strongly condemned the depiction and reiterated that the state was an integral and inseparable part of India.
The controversy followed the publication of a UN map on July 1 that reportedly showed Arunachal Pradesh as a separate region between Indian and Chinese border claims, while also depicting Aksai Chin separately. The map showed Arunachal Pradesh as an independent state bordering Assam and China and removed its border with Nagaland.
India has flagged what it described as “anomalies” in the map with the concerned authorities. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India’s support for a UN General Assembly resolution seeking more accurate and equitable cartographic representation should not be interpreted as approval of any specific map.
The UN has not publicly explained the changes described in the report.
