Pushkar Singh Dhami, Uttarakhand's New Chief Minister In Map Controversy

Uttarakhand’s newest chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami landed in controversy even before he was sworn in as the CM of the state. This comes after social media users pointed out that he had in 2015 shared a map of the so-called ‘Akhand Bharat’ which misrepresented the political map of India. Dhami was on July 3 elected as leader of the BJP legislature party in the state after Tirath Singh Rawat resigned from the post. He will be the state’s third chief minister in four months. Rawat’s tenure began in ignominy after he made derogatory comments about women who wear ripped jeans. The image that Dhami shared demarcated the different countries that purportedly make up Akhand Bharat (Undivided India). The borders of India left out parts of Ladakh & the areas currently occupied by Pakistan in Kashmir. In the past, FIRs have been registered against people or digital platforms for misrepresenting India’s borders. Most recently, a case was registered against Twitter for a post which contained an incorrect map of India. On July 4, Pushkar Singh Dhami was sworn in as 11th Chief Minister of Uttarakhand. All members of the previous council of ministers led by Tirath Singh Rawat were given a place in the new cabinet.