By IANS,
Shimla : The Himachal Pradesh government has been caught in an embarrassing position after its official diary for this year shows glaring omissions in India’s map.
The map, published on the turn page of the diary’s cover, does not show areas of Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Aksai Chin as lying within India’s boundaries.
The map shows the network of country’s national highways in a two-colour contrast. Both PoK and Aksai Chin are printed in different shades and have not been shown as part of India.
A dotted line does indicate the outline of the country’s boundary, but a computer generated shade alters the original image showing PoK and Aksai Chin areas as not part of India.
The map also does not mention its source.
The diary, which was released last month, carries the messages of the governor and the chief minister, both top functionaries of the state who are not even aware that their signatures are part of such a major gaffe.
The diaries printed in thousands are for distribution among the state ministers, legislators, top government officials and mediapersons.
Chief Secretary Asha Swaroop admitted that “it’s a gross oversight”.
“An inquiry has been ordered to fix the responsibility for the blunder,” she said.
Sources said the diaries were published at a private printing press in Chandigarh and hundreds of copies have already been put in circulation.