Startec withdraws wrong Indian map

Wrong Indian map by Startec

Startec Global Communications, 7361 Calhoun Place, Suite 650 Rockville, MD 20855 U.S.A.had put up a distorted Indian map on their site which did not show the Pakistan and Chinese occupied Kashmir in the Indian Map.This Indian Map was not in accordance to the official map of India by the Indian government. This was reported to Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) in November 2006 by Ramesh Chengappa, a patriotic Indian.The Samiti immediately lodged its protest through an email with a copy to the President of India.

The issue was further persistently followed up by HJS representative in the US at which she received non specific replies that there were more than one Indian map versions available.The Samiti received an acknowledgement from the President’s office stating that the matter was referred to the Minisatry of Home Affairs the concerned department. When the HJS representative in US further followed up the matter mentioning that the President’s office in India had acknowledged the protest of HJS, after a few days the distorted Indian Map was replaced by other matter with no official communication received till date.

Following is the communication between HJS and Startec.

First letter from HJS to Startec Global Communications

||Sree||

To,

Startec Global Communications
7361 Calhoun Place, Suite 650
Rockville, MD 20855
U.S.A.

Dear Sir,

Subject: Distortion of Indian map on your website.

We came across the map of India at your following link
http://www2.startec.com/US/EN/jsp/Landing/india79.jsp?mediacd=ONL_ADTOI&WT.mc_id=1003

The Map of India displayed on the brochure does not show Kashmir at all in the Indian Map when it very well belonging to India. This is not in accordance to the Official Map of India by the Government of India. You have by this act distorted the Indian map and presented an incorrect map .In the process you have hurt the National sentiments of Indians. As yours is a multinational company this misinformation is distributed internationally this has also resulted in a wrong representation of the Indian boundaries.

We request you to immediately withdraw this map from the website and tender an apology to all Indians for hurting their National sentiments through this incorrect display of Indian map.

We look forwards to your prompt reply and response.

With regards,
Spokesperson
Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (Goa)

CC to
1.President of India [email protected]
2.Prime Minister’s Office [email protected]
3.Ministry of External Affairs [email protected]

Second Letter from HJS’ USA representative to Startec Global Communications

To: Startec Global Communications
7361 Calhoun Place, Suite 650
Rockville , MD 20855
USA
 
Dear T. J. Master,
 
Subject: Apology for the distortion of Indian map on Startec’s website
 
I have been a customer of Startec for the past couple of years and pleased with the service, I continue to recommend it to friends and family. I am also a spokesperson for Hindu JanJagruti Samiti, a global forum of Indian and Hindu organizations.
 
In December 2006, some irate Indians brought to our attention a distorted map of India at your following link: http://www2.startec.com/US/EN/jsp/Landing/india79.jsp?mediacd=ONL_ADTOI&WT.mc_id=1003
 
We noticed thankfully that that image has been replaced recently. Earlier, the Map of India displayed at the link did not at all show Kashmir in the Indian Map, when Kashmir very well belongs to India. This was not in accordance to the Official Map of India published by the Government of India. Startec, by that act, had distorted and presented an incorrect map, especially given how sensitive the issue of Kashmir is to Indians. Startec had thus hurt the National sentiments of Indians. As this distorted map could be viewed internationally, it had also resulted in a wrong representation of the Indian boundaries at the international level.
 
In December itself, Hindu Janjagruti Samiti’s representative in India had sent a letter to Startec and to the President of India about this issue. Recently, we also received a repsonse from the President’s office about their looking into the matter.
 
As HJS member, I too, had tried to bring this to the attention of Glenda Alberstadt. Glenda had told me that you would be the person to approve the content/images that are used on Startec’s website. She told me that you were out of the country and would return early January. However, I did not receive any communication regarding this issue from you. When I followed up with Glenda again, she said that you had explained that there were a couple of official versions of the map. Does such a thing as more than one official version of a map exist?! She then gave me your number (240 314 4117) to contact you.  I have left you a voice message on this number earlier this week, but have received no response from you.
 
While we are thankful for the withdrawal of the distorted map image from Startec’s website, we also expected Startec to publish an apology in its place; an apology as public and for a similar duration as was the display of the distorted map, for hurting the National sentiments of Indians. Your prompt response and Statec’s apology would reassure Startec’s customers and Indians in general, about Startec’s sensitivity towards issues beyond the bottomline.
 
Sincerely,
Spokesperson
Hindu Janjagruti Samiti

Related HJS campaign
> India Map Controversy