In a recent development, some Indian sportspersons from the state of Arunachal Pradesh were denied entry into the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.
The Indian government has responded strongly to this discriminatory action by the Chinese authorities. Official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, Arindam Bagchi, conveyed the government’s position on this issue. He stated that the Chinese authorities had deliberately and premeditatedly discriminated against these athletes based on their place of origin, denying them accreditation and entry to the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China. Such discrimination is unacceptable to India.
Arunachal Pradesh has always been an integral part of India, and the Indian government firmly rejects any differentiation among its citizens based on domicile or ethnicity. The actions taken by China not only go against the principles of equality but also violate the spirit of the Asian Games and the established rules that prohibit discrimination against athletes from member states.
In response to China’s actions, India has registered a strong protest both in New Delhi and Beijing. This protest aims to make it clear that India will not tolerate the mistreatment of its athletes. The Indian government is taking a stand to safeguard the rights and dignity of its citizens participating in international sporting events.
As a mark of protest against China’s discriminatory behaviour, the Indian Minister of Information and Broadcasting and Youth Affairs and Sports has cancelled his planned visit to China for the Games. This cancellation signifies India’s disapproval of China’s actions and sends a clear message that such behaviour will not be tolerated.
Additionally, the Indian government has made it known that it reserves the right to take further appropriate measures to protect its interests in light of this incident. India is committed to ensuring the fair treatment of its athletes and upholding the principles of equality and respect in international sports.