On Monday, after concluding a joint press meet with the Norwegian PM Jonas Gahr Støre, PM Modi had refused to answer the questions by the Nordic journalists.
Helle Lyng Svendsen, working with Oslo-based newspaper Dagsavisen had asked why he would not take questions from “the freest press in the world”.
In response, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) decided to conduct a press meet, especially inviting Helle Lyng Svendsen.
The press meet on Tuesday was headed by MEA secretary (West) Sibi George and the MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal.
During the press meet, Helle Lyng Svendsen had asked how India can be ‘trusted’ by Norway, which had led to a tense verbal altercation between the woman journalist and Sibi George.
Amid ongoing row sparked during PM Modi’s visit to Norway, that has raised questions on Press freedom in India, a fresh controversy has broken out on the internet over a seemingly racist cartoon published by Aftenposten, depicting the Indian PM as a snake charmer.
The cartoon appeared in a commentary article by Frank Rossavik for the Norwegian newspaper Aften posten on Sunday night, just hours ahead of the India-Norway Business and Research Summit.
Cartoon and online outrage
Titled "En lur og litt irriterende mann", that is translated into “A clever and slightly annoying man”, the article opens with reference to India’s diplomatic approach of balancing relations with competing global powers (such as the US, Russia, and Europe) to maximize its own national interests and global influence. The article also comments upon why Narendra Modi cares about a small group of Scandinavian nations. The expertise these countries hold in wind power, green technology, digitization, etc., that are areas of India's interest.
Now, the cartoon depicts a Modi sitting on a floor mat, wearing an unkempt dhoti and shirt, contrary to the Modi seen in public outings since he became the Prime Minister of India. He is seen playing a pungi, the snake charmers flute to a fuel pump nozzle, drawn in the shape of a snake, symbolizing India's strategic management of its energy needs and international relations.
Strong outrage has broken out in the Indian social media space, criticizing the cartoon and the article that appeared in the newspaper from the country that stands first in the world press freedom index. A social media user marked “Decades-old stereotypes to portray India as 'primitive' are unacceptable & an insult to our identity. Unacceptable!” on X, reacting to the cartoon.
Netizens allege ‘Colonial Mindset’ over the depiction of the Indian PM as a snakecharmer, a trope that has been historically used by the Western media and cinema to depict India, largely during the late 20th century. Meanwhile Norway has not factually colonized any Asian or African nation in history, unlike many European nations like Britain, France, Portugal, Italy, Netherlands, etc.
Debate over press freedom in India
The prime minister’s visit to Oslo has been subject to global media talk for rather different reasons than normal. On Monday, after concluding a joint press meet with the Norwegian PM Jonas Gahr Støre, PM Modi had refused to answer the questions by the Nordic journalists. Helle Lyng Svendsen, working with Oslo-based newspaper Dagsavisen had asked why he would not take questions from “the freest press in the world”.
This had led to a debate on press freedom in India. In response, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) decided to conduct a press meet, especially inviting Helle Lyng Svendsen. The press meet on Tuesday was headed by MEA secretary (West) Sibi George and the MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal. During the press meet, Helle Lyng Svendsen had asked how India can be ‘trusted’ by Norway, which had led to a tense verbal altercation between the woman journalist and Sibi George. The MEA secretary stated that many people misunderstand India after reading reports published by “ignorant NGOs” peddling false narratives.
Norwegian journalist claim Meta ban
A day after escalated tensions in the press meet with the Indian MEA, journalist Helle Lyng Svendsen has said that her social media accounts on Meta's platforms, namely both Facebook and Instagram have been suspended. She took to X (formerly Twitter) and posted "If you’re trying to reach me on Instagram or Facebook, I would like to let you know I have been suspended from both accounts. I have wanted to respond to as many Indians as possible, but my responses will now be delayed. I hope I will get my accounts back."
