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A Norwegian daily recently published a cartoon that portrayed Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a 'snake charmer', drawing widespread criticism for promoting racism. The illustration sparked accusations that it reinforced Western stereotypes. This comes amid a separate controversy linked to a journalist's attempt to question PM Modi during his visit to Norway.

The newspaper Aftenposten depicted the Prime Minister as a 'snake charmer' while holding a fuel-station filling pipe. The illustration has been put on an opinion piece with the headline - "A sneaky and slightly annoying man".

This comes after a Norwegian journalist Helle Lyng questioned PM Modi during a press briefing in Norway. The journalist had asked the Prime Minister why he did not take up media questions. The video of the incident doing rounds of social media did not indicate that the PM heard or gave a response to the journalist's remark. Soon after, Norway Prime Minister defended India's democratic system.

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Racist Cartoon Triggers Outrage On Internet

The cartoon triggered strong backlash across social media platforms, with many users calling it racist and saying it revived outdated colonial stereotypes. "This isn't journalism. It’s colonial-era racism dressed up as commentary. They can’t stomach India’s rise, so they reach for the same tired stereotypes their grandparents used. The mask slips every time," wrote a user on X.

Certain users also criticised the newspaper, describing the illustration as xenophobic and disrespectful towards both India and its elected leadership.

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"This cartoon is blatantly racist," said a user on X, further adding, “What also stands out is the irony. PM Modi used to speak about how earlier the world thought of India as a ‘land of snake charmers’. And now, during his visit to Oslo, a major European newspaper depicts him exactly that way.”

Another user said, "Europeans still can’t come out of their colonial fantasies, sigh." Many people joined in the criticism, arguing that "colonial arrogance still survives in the Western elite media.


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