China’s denial of visa for Asian Games to Arunachal players discriminatory: Anurag Thakur
The Union minister said he cancelled his visit to China in solidarity with the players who have been denied accreditation and visas to participate in the Asian Games
Union Minister Anurag Thakur has said that China’s denial of visas to three Indian athletes from Arunachal Pradesh was “discriminatory” and against the Olympic Charter which is not acceptable to India.
Asserting that the northeastern state is an integral part of India and would continue to remain so, the Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting and Youth Affairs said that he had cancelled his visit to China while standing with the players.
Female players Nyeman Wangsu, Onilu Tega and Mepung Lamgu have been denied accreditation, which also works as a visa for the Asian Games that officially opened on Saturday in Hangzhou.
“As you could see I am not in China, I am in Coimbatore, standing with my players. And this discriminatory approach of a country which is against the Olympic Charter, is not acceptable at all,” he told reporters in Coimbatore.
Beijing's move “is not acceptable to India and I have cancelled my trip to China on these grounds as they have denied the opportunity to the players from Arunachal Pradesh to be a part of the Asian Games,” Thakur said.
(With inputs from agencies)