Wembley show impresses British media amid ‘pariah’ theme

The Wembley event on Friday night was covered prominently in most of the British newspapers, but Prime Minister Narendra Modi continued to be viewed as an ‘ex-pariah’ amid comment that there was “too much hype and hyperbole” around his visit.

Unlike on Friday, Modi’s peregrinations on the second day of his three-day visit did not make any of the front pages on Saturday, which were dominated by the massacre in Paris.

The Daily Telegraph led the Wembley coverage, devoting two pages and splashing six photographs, including one of Samantha Cameron, wife of PM David Cameron, in a designer sari.

The newspaper’s report was headlined ‘Mass hysteria makes Modi man of the moment’, while the strapline said: ‘Rock-star reception at Wembley for the Indian prime minister at celebration of cultural cross-over’. ‘From pariah to pop star as Modi plays Wembley’ was the headline of The Times report, but it was juxtaposed with an analysis titled ‘Foreign Office opens for business with despots’. The analysis included a list of eight visiting controversial foreign leaders, including Modi. The Times also prominently published a cartoon depicting Modi as a snake charmer with Cameron in a basket, his tongue rolling out to Modi’s strains.

The Independent also covered the event over two pages and one photograph, with the headline, ‘Wembley packed for the friendliest of internationals’, and the strapline, ‘To a pulsating Bhangra beat, Narendra Modi showcased the depth of empathy between India and its former colonial master’.

The Guardian, which published several reports, columns and letters critical of Modi in recent days, ignored the Wembley event, and commented on Modi’s visit in an editorial titled ‘Too much hype and hyperbole surround Indian leader’s trip’.

A CARTOON IN THE TIMES DEPICTED MODI AS A SNAKE CHARMER WITH UK PM IN A BASKET, HIS TONGUE ROLLING OUT TO MODI’S STRAINS