Anurag Thakur Strongly Criticizes China for Denying Visas to Indian Athletes

In a firm denunciation of China's recent actions, Union Minister Anurag Thakur, on Friday, condemned the denial of visas to three Indian athletes from Arunachal Pradesh, labelling it as "discriminatory" and a clear violation of the Olympic Charter.

The incident involved two athletes, Onilu Tega and Mepung Lamgu, who had received clearance from the Hangzhou Asian Games organizing committee but were unable to download their accreditation cards, which serve as entry visas to China. The third athlete, Nyeman Wangsu, managed to download the accreditation but was subsequently denied entry into China.

In a resolute response, Mr. Thakur, India's Sports Minister, cancelled his planned visit to China as a gesture of protest.

Addressing reporters in Tamil Nadu's Coimbatore, Mr. Thakur stated, "As you can see, I am not in China; I am here in Coimbatore, standing with my players. This discriminatory approach by a country, which goes against the principles of the Olympic Charter, is entirely unacceptable."

He further emphasized, "China's actions are unacceptable to India, and I have canceled my trip to China on these grounds as they have denied players from Arunachal Pradesh the opportunity to participate in the Asian Games."

India expressed its strong protest to China, asserting its prerogative to take "appropriate measures" to safeguard its interests, as stated by External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi.

Mr. Bagchi accused China of deliberately targeting Indian athletes in a manner that contravenes both the spirit and the letter of the Asian Games, which explicitly prohibits discrimination against competitors from member nations.

"The Government of India has learned that the Chinese authorities have, in a targeted and premeditated manner, discriminated against some Indian sportspeople from the state of Arunachal Pradesh by denying them accreditation and entry to the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China," Mr. Bagchi affirmed in a statement.

He added, "Consistent with our enduring stance, India firmly rejects differential treatment of Indian citizens based on domicile or ethnicity. Arunachal Pradesh has been, is, and will always remain an integral and inseparable part of India."

This development occurred against the backdrop of a controversy surrounding China's release of a "standard map" that includes Arunachal Pradesh as part of its territory. Released the previous month, the map asserts Aksai Chin, occupied during the 1962 war, and Arunachal Pradesh, which China claims as South Tibet, as integral parts of its territory. The map also encompasses the entire South China Sea within Chinese borders, as it had in previous versions.

In response, India has dismissed the map, stating that it holds no significance, and has accused China of a recurring habit of releasing such maps.