MotoGP issues apology for using map of India without Kashmir after fans vent rage
MotoGP apologises for deleting Kashmir from India map
MotoGP apologised to Indian fans on Friday for displaying a map of the country without Kashmir on its live stream of a practice session.
India's territorial integrity is a touchstone issue to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and its supporters.
New Delhi controls most ofKashmir, part of which is occupied by Pakistan, and the two countries have foughttwo wars over the territory.
The premier global motorbike competition is holding its first-ever race in India to tap into a growing two-wheeler market in the world's most populous nation and fifth-biggest economy.
Angry fans took to social media and demanded redress when MotoGP showed a map of India without any part of the Jammu and Kashmir region on their live feed.
MotoGP soon posted an apology on social media.
"We'd like to apologise to our fans in India for the map shown earlier as part of the MotoGP broadcast," the statement read.
"It is never our intent to make any statement other than that of support and appreciation for our host country," it added.
The nation's mapis a sensitive issue for any country andthe Indian map incorporates the whole of Jammu and Kashmir, including the area occupied by Pakistan.
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