Norwegian Newspaper Faces Outrage Over Racist Cartoon Depicting PM Modi As Snake Charmer
· Free Press Journal
Amid the controversy surrounding Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Norway, an allegedly racist cartoon published by a Norwegian newspaper depicting him as a snake charmer has gone viral on social media.
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The newspaper has been accused of reinforcing Western stereotypes through the illustration. According to Hindustan Times, the cartoon was published by the daily Aftenposten along with a commentary piece just hours before Modi landed in Oslo.
The illustration published by Aftenposten featured a caricature resembling Modi holding what appeared to be a fuel-station pipe shaped like a snake. It accompanied an opinion article reportedly titled "A Clever and Slightly Annoying Man."
Norway’s largest newspaper posts an cartoon of PM Modi as a snake charmer during his Oslo visit
— Shashank Mattoo (@MattooShashank) May 19, 2026
“A clever and slightly annoying man,” reads the headline pic.twitter.com/4YfCHzRfiX
Netizens on X slammed the Norwegian daily over the allegedly racist portrayal of India, a country that has long been stereotyped in the West as a land of snake charmers, holy elephants and superstitions.
Shocking. Racist. Derogatory.
— Aditya Raj Kaul (@AdityaRajKaul) May 19, 2026
Norway’s largest broadsheet newspaper Aftenposten brazens it out with a shocking cartoon depicting Indian PM @narendramodi as a Snake Charmer with the headline: “A sneaky and slightly annoying man”.
They can’t digest India’s rise and success. Pity! pic.twitter.com/g905xHNIWm
Norway's biggest paper just ran a cartoon of PM Modi as a snake charmer, calling him 'a sneaky and slightly annoying man.'
— Carl Wheless (@carlwheless) May 19, 2026
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… https://t.co/DidPfmzAGX
A racist caricature of PM Modi as a “snake charmer” by Norwegian newspaper @Aftenposten .
— Mr Sinha (@Mrsinha) May 19, 2026
Hope @norwayinindia takes cognisance of this.
Colonial arrogance dies hard.
The West mocked India when it was poor.
Now they mock India because it is powerful. pic.twitter.com/YbgqqH9I3P
Norway's newspaper Aftenposten depicting PM Modi as a snake charmer is outright outrageous racist behaviour.
— Namita Balyan (@NamitaBalyan) May 19, 2026
This is but a major show of desperation by the weakening declining west.
A rising shining global power India taking over under PM Modi is not at all easy for the most to… pic.twitter.com/TBLeoaNRKb
Earlier, a controversy had erupted after Norwegian journalist Helle Lyng questioned PM Narendra Modi over why he did not take questions from the media during a joint appearance with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. PM Modi did not respond to the query, but the exchange later drew a sharp rebuttal from India’s Ministry of External Affairs, represented by diplomat Sibi George.
'Ignorant NGO Reports’: India Rebuts Norwegian Journalist’s Remarks On Human Rights And Press FreedomGeorge defended India’s democratic framework and accused critics of forming opinions based on selective reports published by “ignorant NGOs” without understanding the country’s scale and complexity.
The diplomat also highlighted India’s constitutional guarantees and democratic institutions while rebutting the allegations raised during the media briefing.