‘Put a sock in it’ — British analyst slams Guardian editorial, says Western media ‘biased’ against India

Editorial asked Indians to 'think hard' about re-electing PM Modi. Analyst Chris Blackburn says such pieces hinder work of foreign press in India.

Political analyst Chris Blackburn | Twitter

New Delhi: Western media is biased against India, a prominent British political analyst has said, citing an editorial in The Guardian that asked Indians to “think hard” about giving Prime Minister Narendra Modi another popular mandate.

Chris Blackburn, a political analyst who has worked on South Asia for over two decades and co-founder of Global Friends of Afghanistan, a US-based non-profit, said the UK daily’s editorial on India’s general elections “clearly indicates a bias”. 

“Editorials of this nature hinder the work of foreign press in India. Collectively, foreign correspondents should express their concerns to The Guardian — asking them to refrain from biased reporting. Tell them to put a sock in it,” Blackburn wrote in the Daily Express Thursday: 

Blackburn added that one challenge was the tendency to view India through a narrow lens, shaped by preconceived notions or sensationalised narratives. “This can lead to oversimplification and distortion of issues, perpetuating stereotypes,” he wrote. 

The editorial in question said Indian democracy was “the loser” from the 2024 general elections, due to Prime Minister Modi’s decade at the helm of government. 

Democracies run best “when there is a contest of ideas” and “equal treatment of citizens”, The Guardian said in its editorial, adding that these were in “short supply” in Modi’s India. 

“The main opposition Congress party found its bank accounts frozen. It can’t be a coincidence that all the leading Indian politicians arrested by enforcement and tax authorities belong to the opposition and none to the ruling party,” it further said.

Blackburn also highlighted how the British daily had relied on Pakistani intelligence to publish an article on India’s alleged overseas assassination programme. 

“Choosing to trust Pakistan’s notorious spooks over democratic India is a concerning choice, prompting questions about journalistic integrity and ulterior motives,” he wrote. 

The report published in early April was heavily sourced from Pakistani intelligence officials.

This “bias”, Blackburn said,  “influences coverage” with Western media outlets focusing on narratives that cater to domestic audience interests or “geopolitical agendas”, resulting in “skewed” portrayals of India in their publications. 

Another incident Blackburn brought up was how Amana Begam Ansari, a columnist at ThePrint, left a BBC anchor “visibly perplexed” by her defence of India’s diversity and how it was a safe harbour for minorities. 

Got a chance to speak on @BBCNewsnight and present facts and reality about my country, India.
Thank you, BBC for giving me a platform. pic.twitter.com/k9hDSGufuF

— Amana Begam Ansari (@Amana_Ansari) August 10, 2023

Blackburn also highlighted the case of Australian journalist Avani Dias, a senior correspondent with ABC News. She said she had been “forced to leave” India, but according to Blackburn, it was later revealed that Dias left voluntarily. He said it was an example of how trust erodes between Indians and foreign correspondents.

“By embracing complexity and diverse voices, Western journalists can contribute to a more nuanced and insightful portrayal of India on the global stage,” Blackburn added.

(Edited by Tikli Basu)