A controversy over the display of a map of India, with parts of Jammu and Kashmir missing, stalled the staging of a play on Partition at the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), authorities said.

The play, written by Hindi playwright Asghar Wajahat and scheduled to be staged on Sunday evening at the AMU drama club, was put off after an objection was raised over its publicity posters carrying the erroneous map.

The matter came to light a day earlier when Manvendra Singh, the vice-president of the BJP's Brij Prant regional committee, pointed out that the posters carried an erroneous map of India without portions of Jammu and Kashmir.

AMU authorities immediately pulled out all posters and issued notices to employees associated with the drama club.

AMU spokesperson Prof. Shafey Kidwai said the president of the drama club, Dr Vibha Sharma, and Abdul Mannan of the cultural education centre have been asked to submit their responses.

Kidwai told PTI that the play titled Jissay Lahore Nahin Dikhya has been performed in several countries across the world but was banned in Pakistan after protests by Muslim hardliners.

The play, he said, highlights the tragedy of the Partition of India and makes a strong plea for cross-cultural bonds of undivided India. It has in the past been performed at the AMU and several other cities in India.

A decision on holding the play will be taken only after the poster investigation is complete, he added.