The medical college is owned by Rajya Sabha MP Asfaq Karim. College management says it is a printing error, nothing intentional. Union minister Giriraj Singh says it is part of 'conspiracy to divide India'.

The map printed on the cover of the prospectus of Katihar Medical College.

A private medical college owned by Rajya Sabha MP Asfaq Karim has triggered a controversy after its prospectus carried a map showing Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) as part of Pakistan.

The Katihar Medical College that is owned by the Rashtriya Janata Dal MP, in its prospectus for post-graduate students of 2018-19 carries a map of India on the cover. The said map excludes PoK from the Indian territory.

The college administration has brushed the issue saying it is a printing error.

Parvesh Shama, a senior official in the management, said, "This is just a printing error. There was nothing intentional in it."

Meanwhile, police and officials from the local administration have reached the college and are investigating the matter.

The RJD MP could not be reached for his comments on the controversy.

On the other hand, reacting to issue, Union minister Giriraj Singh alleged that this to be "yet another attempt to divide the country".

He claimed that he has been warning against a "concerted effort being made by supporters of Muhammad Ali Jinnah to divide the country".

"Publishing this wrong map of India is a manifestation of this [conspiracy]," he said.

The minister added: "For past few months, I have been saying that there is a conspiracy at work to break the country. Jinnah's supporters have already intruded into the country. This wrong map is yet another example of how they are trying to break the country."