Kashmir missing from map, official with Modi protests

An improper Indian map with parts of Jammu and Kashmir missing, put up during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) here Friday, was drawn attention to by Indian officials accompanying the prime minister.

Indian Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh, accompanying the prime minister, "raised the issue and received an unqualified apology" from the university authorities, said a ministry of external affairs tweet. The issue figured prominently on Twitter.

The Samajwadi Party, with the photograph of Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on its Twitter handle, asked external affairs ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin: "Kashmir missing in the Map shown during @PMOIndia visit to @QUT @MEAIndia any objection raised?," asked @SamajwadiSocial.

The spokesperson tweeted back: "Yes, immediately lodged strong protest & received an unqualified regret from the organisers."

To more tweets from others as well as @SamajwadiSocial, the spokesperson said "Yes, immediately lodged strong protest & received an unqualified regret from the organisers." Modi visited the QUT in his first engagement after landing here Friday.

In Australia, Modi is to attend the G20 Summit in Brisbane Nov 15-16 and also hold talks with Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott in Canberra during his five-day stay here.

Akbaruddin later told reporters that the Government takes the issue of distortion of maps of India "seriously".

He said the scientists and the staff at the QTU apparently did not realise the cartographic error.