New Delhi: India has lodged a strong objection to China’s decision to deny accreditation for the Asian Games in Hangzhou to several Indian athletes from Arunachal Pradesh, stating that this move violates the spirit of the sporting event and its governing regulations.
EAM Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi revealed that in response to China’s discriminatory actions, Union I&B and Sports Minister Anurag Singh Thakur has decided to cancel his scheduled visit to China for the Asian Games as a demonstration of India’s protest against such behavior.
Bagchi stated that India retains the right to take “suitable measures to safeguard our interests”.
Our response to media queries on some Indian sportspersons being denied entry into 19th Asian Games:https://t.co/wtoQA8zaDH pic.twitter.com/cACRspcQkD
— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) September 22, 2023
“The government of India has learnt that the Chinese authorities have, in a targeted and pre-meditated 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,” Bagchi said.
“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 said.
Bagchi mentioned that a strong protest has been lodged in both New Delhi and Beijing regarding China’s deliberate and selective hindrance of certain Indian athletes.