External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday dismissed the controversy over the map of ‘Akhand Bharat’ in the new Parliament building, saying it is not a political issue and friendly countries like Nepal have understood India’s explanation, but a country like Pakistan does not have the capacity to understand it. The minister said this in response to a question on the issue being raised in friendly neighboring countries like Nepal and Bangladesh.
When asked about the controversy over it, Jaishankar said, “(External Affairs) spokesperson (Arindam Bagchi) has already told that the map shows the expansion of the Ashokan Empire.” To a supplementary question whether the clarification is not the same for friendly countries like Nepal and friendly countries like Pakistan, the minister quipped, “I don’t think it is a political issue.” Allies have understood this. Pakistan does not have the ability to understand.
Nepal’s Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, who visited India last week, was asked about the map on his return.
On Wednesday, Prachanda told the National Assembly that the map was not political and that he had raised the issue during his recently concluded visit to India.
Know what Prachanda said
Prachanda said, we raised the issue of the new Indian map, which has been placed in the Parliament. We have not done a detailed study, but as reported in the media, we raised this issue seriously, but in response, the Indian side said that it is a cultural and historical map and not a political one. It should not be seen politically. It needs to be studied. But I have picked it up.
Controversy has increased over the map
Controversy over the map escalated last week, as some BJP leaders, including Parliamentary Affairs as well as Coal and Mines Minister Pralhad Joshi, described it as depicting ‘Akhand Bharat’ or a unified India. In countries like Nepal and Pakistan, when questions were asked about the map not working properly, the Ministry of External Affairs also had to give clarification on this.
The mural in question depicts the spread of the Ashokan Empire and the idea of responsible and people-oriented governance, which (Emperor Ashoka) adopted and propagated, Bagchi had said in response to questions on the map last week.
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