PM Modi depicted as snake charmer in Norwegian cartoon, sparks outrage online

A Norwegian newspaper has triggered a fresh controversy involving Prime Minister Narendra Modi after publishing a cartoon that critics say relies on colonial-era stereotypes associated with India.

The illustration, published by Norway’s largest print daily Aftenposten, depicted PM Modi as a snake charmer playing a traditional pungi while attempting to “charm” a snake shaped like a fuel pump nozzle. The cartoon appeared alongside an opinion piece discussing recent fuel price hikes in India.

The publication quickly sparked outrage across social media platforms, with several users calling the imagery “racist”, “xenophobic” and culturally insensitive.

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Colonial symbolism sparks criticism

Much of the criticism focused on the use of the “snake charmer” stereotype, an image historically associated with colonial portrayals of India in Western media and literature.

Several users online argued that the imagery reduced India to an outdated caricature despite the country’s economic and technological growth.

One user referenced PM Modi’s 2014 speech at New York’s Madison Square Garden, where he had said India had evolved from being viewed as a “land of snake charmers” into a nation of “mouse charmers,” referring to the country’s rise in technology and information services.

Others defended the newspaper’s right to political satire and argued that criticism of public figures should not automatically be viewed as racism. The Indian government has not issued any official statement on the controversy so far.

Row follows tense India-Norway media exchange

The controversy comes days after another India-Norway media flashpoint involving Norwegian journalist Helle Lyng.

Lyng recently questioned PM Modi during a media interaction in Oslo about why he did not take questions from journalists during a joint appearance with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.

The incident later escalated into a wider online debate about press freedom after Lyng claimed her Meta social media accounts had been suspended following the viral exchange. During a subsequent briefing, senior Indian diplomat Sibi George strongly defended India’s democratic framework and media landscape.

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“People have no understanding of the scale of India,” George said while responding to questions about press freedom and human rights concerns. He also pointed to India’s constitutional guarantees and democratic institutions.

Satire, diplomacy and online outrage

The latest cartoon controversy has once again highlighted how political satire involving national leaders can rapidly escalate into broader diplomatic and cultural debates in the social media era.

While some viewed the illustration as fair political commentary tied to rising fuel prices, critics argued that the visual symbolism crossed into racial stereotyping rather than satire.

The episode has also revived conversations around how Western media portrays India and whether certain visual tropes continue to reflect outdated colonial perceptions.