Gangtok: A major national English daily has issued a public apology after publishing an incorrect map of India in its May 13, 2025 edition that omitted the state of Sikkim—triggering widespread outrage just days before the Himalayan state celebrates its 50th anniversary of statehood.
The error appeared in the ‘Data Point’ section of an article titled “With a new Pope, an understanding of Catholicism in India.” The map used to illustrate the piece mistakenly left out Sikkim’s borders, effectively rendering the state invisible. The newspaper has since acknowledged the mistake, attributing it to a “data input error,” and promptly updated the corrected map in its online and e-paper editions.
In an official editor’s note, the publication stated, “Due to a data input error, the India map in the article was incorrectly presented with the contours of Sikkim State being shaded out. We apologise for the error. The map has been corrected in our e-paper editions.”
The incident has sparked a political firestorm. Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang sharply condemned the omission, calling it “a serious and unacceptable error that undermines the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our nation.” Taking to social media, Tamang described the act as “deeply hurtful” and “an affront to the unity of our Republic,” especially given Sikkim’s constitutional status under Article 371F.
The state BJP unit also lashed out at the publication, terming the exclusion of Sikkim as “a grave error” and “a blatant affront to the Republic.” The party demanded a formal apology from the editorial board, rectification of the map, and an official inquiry by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
“The people of Sikkim will not tolerate being rendered invisible or disrespected in any manner,” the BJP said in its statement, reaffirming its commitment to protecting the state’s dignity and rightful place in the Indian Union.
The episode has ignited strong sentiments across Sikkim, coming at a particularly sensitive time as the state prepares to commemorate 50 years of integration with India on May 16, a milestone in its democratic journey and national identity.
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