An article published in the Financial Times (FT) about an alleged plot to assassinate Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a known terrorist, on US soil by suspected Indian agents has sparked controversy in the Indian media. The FT is known for its anti-Indian stance, and the article, written by a journalist with ties to Hong Kong, is filled with innuendos and unsubstantiated claims sourced from unidentified individuals.
The Indian press has unquestioningly amplified the article, serving the agenda of those seeking to put India on the defensive and hold it accountable for unproven allegations from the US. This tactic aims to tarnish India’s reputation as a law-abiding democracy and question its commitment to the rule of law. It suggests that certain factions within India’s establishment view the country as an undeserving partner of the US.
India has been facing criticism in US political, media, and academic circles for alleged human rights violations. However, the US government fails to acknowledge its own severe human rights abuses, such as the indiscriminate killing of innocent citizens due to lax gun laws and the ideological obsession with gun possession. The attempt to link India to the assassination plot is another way to accuse the country of disregarding human rights norms.
The credibility of the journalist’s sources cannot be verified, leaving it solely reliant on the integrity of the journalist and the newspaper, both of which are questionable. The journalist’s apparent delight in obtaining a scoop and promoting it on social media is not typical behavior.
It is intriguing why the FT was chosen as the platform to publish a story involving the US and India. It is worth noting that Chyrstia Freeland, the Deputy Prime Minister of Canada, has a background in journalism and has worked for the FT and other media outlets. This raises questions about any potential connections between the FT article and the Trudeau government’s recent actions.
In response to the allegations, an Indian spokesperson states that the US shared information about organized crime, gun running, and terrorism with India, and both sides agreed to follow up on it due to concerns for national security.
The Indian government, despite the strained relations with Canada over a similar issue, would not risk getting involved in the killing of a US citizen on US soil, as it would severely damage the growing ties between India and the US. It is unnecessary to engage in an open dispute with the US government at this stage, as both sides would prefer to handle the issue discreetly.
This incident raises a broader question about the power of the West to shape global narratives. Western media outlets, particularly those from the US and the UK, have significant influence in setting the narrative about non-Western countries. The spread of the English language further aids in this narrative-setting process. Non-Western countries are more susceptible to these narratives, while their own perspectives are often overlooked.
Countries like Russia and China attempt to promote their own narratives but face limitations due to language barriers and limited access to the international elite. Unlike India, which has a thriving English-language press connected to Western sources, Russia and China struggle to build their media narratives on the international stage.
The FT article and its extensive coverage in the Indian media demonstrate the agenda-setting power of the Anglosphere media. By giving prominence to the article, the FT effectively serves its purpose, as it would not have achieved the same impact if it had been relegated to a minor news item.
It is important to note that these opinions are those of the author and do not represent any official stance.
