Asian Games Visa Row: Anurag Thakur Says 'Discrimination Against Athletes Violates Olympic Charter'

In a powerful display of solidarity with the affected athletes, it was earlier confirmed by the Minister of External Affairs (MEA) that Anurag Thakur has cancelled his planned visit to China.

Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Thakur during an interaction with students at the PSG College of Arts and Science, in Coimbatore, Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023

Source : PTI

Coimbatore: In a resolute stance against what it deems as "discrimination", India has raised strong objections to China's denial of visas to three Indian athletes hailing from Arunachal Pradesh. Union Minister Anurag Thakur, holding key portfolios in the Indian government, has firmly asserted that such actions by China are in direct violation of the Olympic Charter and are entirely unacceptable to India.

Thakur, who serves as the Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting and Youth Affairs, made it abundantly clear that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral and inseparable part of India, a sentiment that the Indian government steadfastly upholds. In a powerful display of solidarity with the affected athletes, it was earlier confirmed by the Minister of External Affairs (MEA) that Thakur has cancelled his planned visit to China.

Also on ABP LIVE | 'I’m Alright': Arunachal Pradesh's Mepung Lamgu Breaks Silence After Being Denied Visa For Asian Games

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 here.

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 added.

Meanwhile, India have been on a medal-winning spree on Sunday (September 24) with the Indian contingent have already bagged four medals- three of them in rowing and one in shooting. In addition, the women's cricket team has also guaranteed itself of a medal with them having secure a spot in the gold medal fixture.

(With Inputs From PTI)