Twitter has been directed to rectify the error by November 30 (File)
Social media giant Twitter has submitted a written apology to a parliamentary panel for hurting the sentiments of people of India by showing Leh as a part of China in its geo-location service, BJP MP Meenakshi Lekhi said on Wednesday, adding the company has been directed to rectify the error by November 30.
"Twitter Inc has tendered an apology in an affidavit form before the parliamentary committee. It has been signed by Damien Kieran, the Chief Privacy Officer of Twitter, who is based in San Francisco," Ms Lekhi told NDTV.
"The Twitter affidavit says that it apologises for hurting the sentiments of India and that it is working on correcting the geo-tagging mistake by November 30," she added.
Mr Lekhi, who heads the panel, said any company wanting to do business in the country will have to abide by its laws.
There had been anger on social media after the micro-blogging website's geo-location feature showed Leh, the largest town in Ladakh, as a part of China.
Twitter India officials had appeared before the parliamentary Joint Committee examining the Personal Data Protection Bill over the issue last month and said that they understood India's sensitivity over the matter, Ms Lekhi had said in October, adding the panel was of the view that the explanation offered was "inadequate".
"This is inadequate. It is not just a question of sensitivity. It is against the sovereignty and integrity of India," she had said.
After the meeting, a Twitter spokesperson had said the geo-tagging fault was resolved swiftly. "We are committed to openness, transparency around our work and will remain in regular touch with the government to share timely updates," the company had said.
The central government, in a strongly worded letter last month, had warned Twitter, saying any disrespect towards the country's sovereignty and integrity was totally unacceptable.
India and China's troops have been locked in a standoff in eastern Ladakh since April, when China's People's Liberation Army transgressed the Line of Actual Control. In June, 20 Indian soldiers had died in the line of duty in a clash with Chinese troops in Galwan Valley.
The two countries have had several rounds of military and diplomatic-level talks to resolve the deadlock.
With inputs from PTI