India on Thursday sought a reply from Beijing after China denied a visa to Bamang Tago, the contingent manager for India’s badminton team to a tournament in Fuzhou, PTI reported. On Wednesday, Tago had requested the intervention of the Minister of State of Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju, after he was denied the requisite document for an ongoing tournament in Fuzhou. The Chinese Embassy in New Delhi did not grant him a visa to travel to Fuzhou for the China Open Super Series Premier badminton tournament “on the grounds of Arunachal domiciles”, PTI reported.

External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said, “This matter has been brought to our notice now. The government’s position on differential treatment of Indian passport holders is clear and well known. We have conveyed it to the Chinese side. We expect them to address this issue in the spirit of reciprocity and smooth development of bilateral relations.”

Tago, who is also the secretary of Arunachal Pradesh Badminton Association, had said, “I was told by embassy officials that since I belong to Arunachal Pradesh, an approval from Beijing is required.” He had applied for the travel permit on November 10, but there has been no word from the Chinese Embassy since their rejection of his visa. The Indian badminton contingent manager said Rijiju had assured him he would look into the matter.

The badminton team manager was supposed to lead a 14-member Indian contingent at the Thaihot China Open in Fuzhou, which began on Tuesday and will go on till November 20. The Indian team was invited to participate in the tournament by the Fuzhou Municipal Sports Bureau. The 13 others in the team got their visas with no hurdles.

“My visa has been withheld on the grounds of my Arunachal Pradesh domicile, which is discrimination by China,” Tago said. “China has become an important location for international sports events...Sportspersons from Arunachal Pradesh will be deprived in the days to come for no fault of theirs.”