‘Deliberate Omission’: Sikkim CM slams ‘The Hindu’ for leaving out state from India’s map

Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang has issued a scathing rebuke of The Hindu after the national daily published a map of India in its May 13, 2025, edition that omitted the state of Sikkim. Labelling the omission as a “serious and unacceptable error,” Tamang asserted that it undermines India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, particularly as Sikkim celebrates 50 years of statehood.

The controversy has been compounded by accusations from critics who claim The Hindu’s error is part of a broader pattern of media missteps, with outlets like The Times of India and others accused of misrepresenting India’s territorial integrity, notably by referring to Jammu and Kashmir as “Indian Controlled Kashmir” in recent years.

In a strongly worded post on X at 10:30 AM on May 14, 2025, CM Tamang expressed his outrage, stating, “It has come to my attention that The Hindu, in its edition dated 13th May 2025, published a map of India omitting the state of Sikkim. This is not a mere oversight, it is a serious and unacceptable error that undermines the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our nation.”

It has come to my attention that The Hindu, in its edition dated 13th May 2025, published a map of India omitting the state of Sikkim. This is not a mere oversight, it is a serious and unacceptable error that undermines the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our nation.

At… pic.twitter.com/1OB5Ccwiuv

— Prem Singh Tamang (Golay) (@PSTamangGolay) May 14, 2025 

He emphasised the emotional weight of the omission, noting, “At a time when we are celebrating 50 years of Sikkim’s Statehood, such a misrepresentation is deeply hurtful to the people of Sikkim and an affront to the unity of our Republic.”

Tamang further highlighted Sikkim’s constitutional status, stating, “Sikkim is an integral part of India, with its identity firmly safeguarded under Article 371F of the Constitution.” He condemned the lapse as a failure of media responsibility, adding, “The Hindu and all media organisations bear a serious responsibility in portraying the country accurately and respectfully.”

The controversy escalated with a blistering critique from an X user, who labelled The Hindu a “habitual offender” for publishing the map without Sikkim. The user’s post, timestamped 11:15 AM on May 14, 2025, read, “Habitual offender The Hindu has published a map of India from which Sikkim is missing in its 13 May 2025 edition. Given a series of similar offences in recent days, it would appear mocking the sovereignty of India is not an editorial error but a considered editorial judgement: The purpose is to question the unity of India and insult the people of Sikkim who are proud of their Indian nationality.”

Habitual offender The Hindu @the_hindu has published a map of India from which Sikkim is missing in its 13 May 2025 edition.

Given a series of similar offences in recent days it would appear mocking the sovereignty of India is not an editorial error but a considered editorial… pic.twitter.com/mf58j0ovHR

— Kanchan Gupta 🇮🇳 (@KanchanGupta) May 14, 2025 

The post highlighted Sikkim’s integration into India, noting, “Sikkim was, is and shall remain an inseparable part of India ever since the people of Sikkim opted for this country 50 years ago this month on 16 May 1975 as the 22nd State of India.”

It accused The Hindu of violating Article 371F, which guarantees Sikkim’s special status, as well as Articles 19(2) and 19(3) of the Constitution, which impose restrictions on freedom of expression to protect national unity and public order. “Excluding Sikkim from the map of India is tantamount to militating against India’s national unity and constitutional integrity,” the post charged, dismissing any potential apology as inadequate. “A routine proforma statement describing it as an ‘error’ is of no consequence. The Hindu has indulged in this rope trick once too often.”

 Accusations Against The Times of India and Others

The outrage over The Hindu’s omission of Sikkim has reignited broader concerns about so-called mainstream media outlets allegedly undermining India’s territorial integrity, particularly in their coverage of Jammu and Kashmir. In recent years, several Indian newspapers, including The Times of India and Deccan Herald, have faced criticism for referring to Jammu and Kashmir as “Indian Controlled Kashmir,” terms that critics argue align with Pakistan’s narrative and question India’s sovereignty over the Union Territory.

The Times of India (April-May 2025): Following the deadly militant attack in Pahalgam on April 22, 2025, which killed 26 tourists, The Times of India published an article that described Jammu and Kashmir as “Indian Controlled Kashmir.” This sparked immediate backlash on X, with users accusing the newspaper of furthering Pakistan’s position. On April 25, 2025, BJP leader Amit Malviya posted, “After The Hindu, it is The Times of India. Not surprised to see the newspaper furthering Pakistan’s position and describing India’s Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir as ‘Indian-controlled Kashmir.’ After all, this is the same group that pushed the ‘Aman ki Asha’ campaign.”

Another user, @KanchanGupta, echoed the sentiment, calling the terminology “totally condemnable” and reflective of poor editorial leadership. On May 4, 2025, @MehHarshil criticised The Times of India for “mistakenly describing ‘Indian-occupied Kashmir’ in print editions” and using incorrect maps on its website that depicted Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) as part of Pakistan. @Pamphlet_in further alleged that The Times of India was “trying to please Pakistanis” with such portrayals, only to issue apologies later.

Terrible to see @timesofindia towing the Pakistani line and describing India’s UT of Jammu & Kashmir as “Indian Controlled Kashmir”.
Reflects extremely poorly on the Times Group, on editorial leadership and on newsdesk.
If it is considered policy, then totally condemnable. pic.twitter.com/RszSFNLkfF

— Kanchan Gupta 🇮🇳 (@KanchanGupta) April 25, 2025 

Deccan Herald (May 2025): On May 6, 2025, an X user, @desimojito, accused Deccan Herald of referring to Jammu and Kashmir as “Indian Controlled Kashmir,” labelling the outlet an “ISIS mouthpiece.” This incident added to the growing perception that certain media houses were adopting terminology that undermines India’s sovereignty.

Thousands of our soldiers and Indians have achieved martyrdom to protect J&K and @DeccanHerald, @the_hindu, @Sportskeeda, @toi
calls it Indian Administered Kashmir? What next Indian occupied Kashmir?

Calling Terrorist 🐷 Munir as most powerful man in Pakistan?

Without even… pic.twitter.com/75R7EvhEvi

— Arun Pudur (@arunpudur) May 6, 2025 

The Hindu’s Prior Controversies: The Hindu itself has faced criticism for similar issues. On April 25, 2025, posts on X noted that The Hindu had used the term “India-controlled (administered) Kashmir” during a period of heightened tensions over Jammu and Kashmir, prompting questions about the media’s resolve to uphold national unity.

These incidents have fueled accusations that mainstream media outlets are either carelessly or intentionally adopting narratives that interfere with India’s territorial integrity. Critics point to the timing of these errors, often during periods of heightened geopolitical sensitivity, such as the Pahalgam attack or Sikkim’s statehood celebrations, as evidence of a pattern.

The use of terms like “Indian Controlled Kashmir” is particularly contentious, as they echo Pakistan’s official stance, which refers to Jammu and Kashmir as “Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOJK).” For instance, a 2022 statement from Pakistan’s Ministry of Kashmir Affairs described India’s presence in Jammu and Kashmir as an “illegal occupation” since 1947, a narrative that Indian critics argue is being subtly amplified by such media missteps.

Media Response and Concerns

As of now, The Hindu has not issued an official response to the Sikkim controversy, though sources suggest the editorial team is reviewing the matter. Similarly, The Times of India has faced criticism for issuing what critics call “routine apologies” without addressing underlying editorial practices. For instance, after the backlash over its “Indian Controlled Kashmir” reference, The Times of India reportedly expressed regret, but critics like @Pamphlet_in argued that such apologies are hollow given the recurrence of errors.