India lodges strong protest over exclusion of J&K from India's map on Saudi currency note

New Delhi: India has conveyed its strong protest and concern over Saudi Arabia's wrong portrayal of India's map which is part of the global map printed on its 20 Riyal banknote. The map on the banknote shows Jammu and Kashmir including Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir as a separate entity. India has termed it as a 'gross misrepresentation' of Indian territory.

"We have expressed concern for the misrepresentation to Saudi Arabia, both through their ambassador in New Delhi and in Riyadh. We asked them to take immediate corrective steps on the misrepresentation of India's external territories on the official and legal banknote of Saudi Arabia", Anurag Srivastava, spokesperson, Ministry of External Affairs said.

He asserted that the entire Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh are integral parts of India.

The currency note of value 20 riyal was printed by Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority on October 24 to celebrate the Saudi presidency of the G20. The global organisation for international cooperation will convene the next summit meet on November 21-22 virtually.

The new banknote features King Salman and the G20 Saudi summit logo on one side, with a world map highlighting G20 countries in a darker shade on the other.

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