India dismisses report of confiscation of material in China

NEW DELHI: India on Sunday dismissed reports of alleged confiscation of some printed material depicting its map from the 'India Pavilion' at the Shanghai Expo by Chinese authorities in July, amid a row between the two countries over China's refusal to issue visa to a top Indian Army officer.

"I have seen a report...about alleged confiscation of some printed material depicting the Indian map, from the Indian pavilion at Shanghai Expo by the Chinese authorities," the spokesman of the Ministry of External Affairs said.

He said, "There is no factual basis to this report. There has been no interference in the functioning of our pavilion at Shanghai Expo".

The report had said the Chinese police had seized the material showing maps depicting Arunachal Pradesh as part of India.

The comments come close on the heels of a major diplomatic row between the two countries after China refused to permit an Indian army general to visit that country as he is in-charge of "sensitive" Jammu and Kashmir.

In an angry retaliation, India put all defence exchanges with it on hold till the matter was sorted out.

India, which has already lodged its protest with China for denying permission to Northern Commander Lt Gen B S Jaswal, had said the Chinese action amounts to questioning the status of Jammu and Kashmir which is "unacceptable" as it relates to the country's sovereignty.