New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has called for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address the recent release of a map by China that lays claim to Aksai Chin and Arunachal Pradesh, territories which have been contested by India.
China's map, considered a "standard" version, includes Aksai Chin, occupied during the 1962 war, and Arunachal Pradesh, referred to as South Tibet by Beijing, as part of its own territory. This development has triggered a strong reaction from Rahul Gandhi, who insisted on the Prime Minister's response during his departure for Karnataka, reported NDTV.
Rahul Gandhi said, "I have been saying for years that what the PM said, that not one inch of land was lost in Ladakh, is a lie. The entire Ladakh knows that China has transgressed. This map issue is very serious. They have taken away the land. The PM should say something about it."
In response to the controversy, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar conveyed to NDTV that such maps from China hold little significance, as it has been a recurring habit of the nation. He stressed that China's act of producing maps displaying territories that do not belong to them is not new. Jaishankar underlined India's firm stance on its territory and emphasised that the creation of baseless claims does not alter the sovereignty of other nations' lands.
Diplomatically, India has already expressed its strong protest over the release of this "standard" map.
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, "We reject the claims as they have no basis. Such steps by the Chinese side only complicate the resolution of the boundary question."
The timing of China's map release coincides with India's preparation for the G20 Summit, scheduled for September 9-10. Earlier this month, during the BRICS summit in South Africa, PM Modi, and Chinese President Xi Jinping mutually agreed to prioritise "expeditious de-escalation" along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
China's recent map unveiling follows a series of related actions, including renaming 11 places in Arunachal Pradesh. India firmly rejected this renaming, asserting that Arunachal Pradesh is integral to its territory. The renaming move by China marked the third addition by its civil affairs ministry, following earlier releases in 2017 and 2021.
The territorial disputes between India and China have the potential to impact regional stability and international relations.