A prominent British political analyst has criticised Western media for bias against India, pointing to an editorial in The Guardian that urged Indians to carefully consider granting Prime Minister Narendra Modi another term in office.

Chris Blackburn, a political analyst with over two decades of experience in South Asia and a co-founder of Global Friends of Afghanistan, a US-based non-profit, stated that The Guardian'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 also highlighted that one challenge was the tendency to perceive India through a narrow lens, often influenced by preconceived notions or sensationalised narratives. “This can lead to oversimplification and distortion of issues, perpetuating stereotypes,” he wrote.

The editorial in question said that Indian democracy emerged as "the loser" from the 2024 general elections, attributing this to Prime Minister Modi's decade-long tenure at the helm of the 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 pointed out that the British daily had sourced information from Pakistani intelligence to publish an article regarding 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.

Blackburn noted that this "bias" significantly “influences coverage”, with Western media outlets often prioritising narratives that align with domestic audience interests or "geopolitical agendas," consequently leading to "skewed" portrayals of India in their publications.

Blackburn also highlighted an incident where Amana Begam Ansari, a columnist at ThePrint, left a BBC anchor "visibly perplexed" by passionately defending India's diversity and portraying it as a safe haven for minorities.

Blackburn also underscored 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 cited this as an example of how trust can erode 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.

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