Anurag Thakur cancels China visit; Khandu lodges protest
OUR BUREAU AND IANS
NEW DELHI/ITANAGAR: Minister of Information and Broadcasting and Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Thakur on Friday cancelled his visit to China for the 19th Asian Games to be held in Hangzhou as a mark of protest against that country’s decision to deny accreditation and entry to the Indian Wushu team players (all from Arunachal Pradesh) for the mega sports event. Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu lodged a strong protest over China’s denial of accreditation to three Wushu players from Arunachal Pradesh for the Hangzhou Asian Games.
External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, “The government of India has learned that the Chinese authorities have, in a targeted and premeditated manner, discriminated against some of the Indian sportspersons from the state of Arunachal Pradesh by denying them accreditation and entry to the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.
”In line with our long-standing and consistent position, India firmly rejects differential treatment of Indian citizens on the basis of domicile or ethnicity. Arunachal Pradesh was, is, and will always remain an integral and inalienable part of India,” he added.
“A strong protest has been lodged in New Delhi and Beijing against China’s deliberate and selective obstruction of some of our sportspersons. China’s action violates both the spirit of the Asian Games and the rules governing their conduct, which explicitly prohibit discrimination against competitors from member states,” he further informed.
Informing that the minister has cancelled his visit to China to attend the Asian Games, Bagchi said, “Government of India reserves the right to take suitable measures to safeguard our interests.”
Three Wushu players from Arunachal Pradesh have not been able to travel to Hangzhou, China, for the Asian Games in the absence of clearance by the Chinese authorities.
Minister for Earth Sciences and MP from Arunachal Pradesh, Kiren Rijiju, also condemned the action by China.
“I strongly condemn this act by China to deny visas to our Wushu athletes from Arunachal Pradesh who were to participate in the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou. This violates both the spirit of sports and the rules governing the conduct of Asian Games, which explicitly prohibit discrimination against competitors from member states,” Rijiju posted on X.
“Arunachal Pradesh is not a disputed territory but an inalienable part of India. The entire people of Arunachal Pradesh resolutely oppose any illegal claim by China on its land and people. The International Olympic Committee should reign in China’s illegitimate action,” he added further.
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu said that the denial of visas to talented Wushu athletes from Arunachal Pradesh by China is unfortunate. They were to take part in the Asian Games in Hangzhou, the Chief Minister said on X, formerly Twitter.
“Beijing has acted against established diplomatic norms and has shown utter disregard for the spirit of sports. The people of Arunachal Pradesh, an integral part of Bharat, firmly stand by our players and vehemently oppose China’s abominable decision,” he said.
He demanded that the International Olympic Committee make Beijing realise the gravity of the violation they have committed and ensure that the visas are immediately issued to the players.
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