Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Subramanian Swamy has said that the withdrawal of clearances for Chinese editors visiting India for a media exchange with their Indian counterparts this week is a bad signal for both countries.
Swamy told ANI, "I don't know what the exact details are, but I do find it very strange that a private research institute calls people, and then, at the last minute, when a very senior journalist is just about to board the plane, they are told that the approval has been withdrawn."
"The approval and the visas were originally given to these journalists by the Indian Embassy in Beijing. This is another bad signal between India and China," he added.
Prime Minister Modi had earlier called for an immediate resolution of boundary issue between India and China, saying that clarity on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) is essential for improving relations between the two countries.
Also, a senior Chinese official had earlier called for better China-India media exchanges and cooperation in order to enhance mutual understanding and friendship between the people of the two countries.
However, the soldiers of People's Liberation Army, who had entered the Chumur area in Ladakh earlier this week, have reportedly remained.