Gangtok, May 15, 2025 — Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang (P.S. Golay) has strongly condemned The Hindu, one of India’s prominent national dailies, for publishing a map of India in its May 13, 2025 edition that omitted the state of Sikkim. The map appeared in an article titled “With a new Pope, an understanding of Catholicism in India”, under the ‘Data Point’ section.
In a public statement, CM Golay termed the omission as “a serious and unacceptable error” and said it was a direct affront to the people of Sikkim, especially during the state’s ongoing celebration of 50 years of statehood.
“This is not a mere oversight,” said the Chief Minister. “It is a grave lapse that undermines the territorial integrity of our Republic. Sikkim is an integral part of India, and its identity is firmly safeguarded under Article 371F of the Constitution.”
The incident sparked widespread outrage among Sikkimese citizens and public representatives. Many took to social media to express anger and demanded accountability from the publication.
In response to the backlash, The Hindu issued a formal clarification and apology on May 15, 2025.
The note read: “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 apologies for the error. The map has been corrected in our e-paper editions.” — The Editor
While the clarification has been acknowledged, many believe such mistakes by reputed national media must be avoided through stringent editorial oversight.
The incident has reignited debate on the sensitivity of cartographic representation in national media and its potential implications on public sentiment and national unity.