LONDON: A map of India on the web site of the World Well being Group, depicting the Union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh in a completely completely different color, has evoked offended reactions from the Indian diaspora in Britain. WHO, nonetheless, held that it follows UN pointers and follow concerning maps.
The map is on WHO’s Covid-19 scenario dashboard that exhibits the most recent pandemic numbers by nation. While the remainder of India is colored navy blue, J&Ok and Ladakh have been marked in gray as in the event that they a separate nation. The disputed border space of Aksai Chin is demarcated with gray with blue stripes, the identical shade as that of China.
Pankaj, 40, an Indian IT guide from Jharkhand, who lives in London, first noticed the map shared in a WhatsApp group. He mentioned: “I used to be shocked that such an enormous organisation like WHO with such an enormous accountability on this planet might do that. Now that India is the chair it’s much more essential for WHO to not take pleasure in such actions. I do know China offers enormous quantities of funding to WHO and Pakistan will get loans from China and desires to maintain this matter lively. My feeling is that China is behind this because the affect of China on WHO may be very excessive.”
The LoC will be faintly seen on the gray phase. “Even when the LoC is there, PoK needs to be a part of India, as ought to J&Ok,” Pankaj mentioned. “If they’re going to depict states as completely different colors, each state ought to have one. This exhibits they don’t recognise Kashmir as a part of India.”
Nandini Singh, who heads social media at Attain India (UK), a diaspora group, mentioned: “This demonstrates WHO is in a nexus with China. As a substitute of thanking India for what it has executed to battle Covid-19, together with supplying PPE and vaccine to the world, it is a deliberate try to harm India. WHO must apologise to India and proper the error.”
Union well being minister Dr Harsh Vardhan took over as chair of the WHO government board final yr.
“WHO’s strategy is to observe UN pointers and follow concerning maps so far as attainable. WHO, as a UN specialised company, follows the United Nations on illustration of territories and limits on maps as a result of the United Nations is entrusted with addressing points involving issues of geo-politics for the UN system” was WHO’s response to TOI’s question on the matter.
Abroad Mates of BJP’s UK president Kuldeep Shekhawat mentioned, “I feel there’s mismanagement inside WHO and as soon as it’s identified they need to appropriate it. This isn’t an correct depiction of India.”
US President Donal Trump suspended funding to WHO final April after being vital of its dealing with of the pandemic and its relationship with China. President-elect Joe Biden has pledged to reverse this. Final week China blocked entry to the WHO crew learning Covid-19’s origins.
Final yr the Indian authorities issued a sternly worded warning to Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey after Twitter confirmed J&Ok and Leh as a part of China.
