After tense interaction involving reporter, Norwegian newspaper depicts PM Modi as snake charmer

NEW DELHI: A Norwegian newspaper drew widespread criticism for its contentious cartoon depicting indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a snake charmer. The cartoon, which accompanied an article in the Aftenposten newspaper, was addressing the rising fuel prices in India.

In the cartoon, the snake is replaced by a petrol filler while the prime minister plays the role of the charmer.

The article is titled "A clever and slightly annoying man." In 2022, the Spanish Newspaper La Vanguardia also drew a similar cartoon. It was criticised, including on social media, for reflecting a colonial mentality.

In 2014, at an event in New York, while talking about India's digital and IT growth, PM Modi hailed India’s transformation into a new IT hub from being widely acknowledged as a snake charmer nation. This remark was the impetus for the Norwegian paper’s distasteful cartoon.

Meanwhile, former foreign secretary of India Kanwal Sibal said that the cartoon reflects the shallowness of Norway’s journalism.

“Resorting to an offensive snake charmer stereotype of India, that has a racist overtone”, said Kanwal Sibal.

The other day, Norwegian journalist Helle Lyng tried getting a response from Prime Minister Modi, but to no avail. Tensions amplified after India’s MEA Secretary responded to the queries from the journalist, which didn’t end well as Helle walked out midway during the presser. Neither the central government nor Norway has responded to the issue.