MEA, stick to the brief

The government has stooped to upbraiding a recent editorial in a topflight international newspaper which criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for installing a “firebrand Hindu cleric”, Adityanath Yogi, as the chief minister of UP. In doing so, the New York Times argued, Mr Modi revealed his “cagey game” of “appeasing his party’s hard-line Hindu base” while promoting economic development. The spokesman of the ministry of external affairs projects India’s international position and responds to criticisms made by foreign governments or international bodies to which this country contributes. It is arguable whether the remit of the foreign office is to respond to newspaper writings abroad. In attacking the NYT editorial, the government may have exposed itself to the charge of being too touchy about criticism. A vigilant media is crucial to the democratic dispensation. Indian media organisations, including this newspaper, routinely criticise the US government and its leaders, and other governments. Other than countries like China and Pakistan, it is hard to think of any major government using its instruments to seek to chastise such writings. The MEA spokesman noted that the NYT had criticised the democratic verdict in UP. This is incorrect. The paper was critical of the “shocking rebuke” to “religious minorities” that making Adityanath CM represents, a view shared by many in our own media.