Time and again, the country’s mainstream media has acted as a hindrance and worked against India’s best interests especially when it comes to foreign relations. The Hindu is one such publication and the publication fell further low by claiming that Denmark has expressed concerns over India’s Wuhan coronavirus situation, only to be fact-checked by Ambassador of Denmark to India, Freddy Svane.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Prime Minister Modi recently held a virtual summit to elevate the bilateral relations to a Green Strategic Partnership. The Hindu chose to twist the meeting by claiming that the Danish PM expressed “deep concern” over India’s coronavirus situation. Ambassador of Denmark to India, Freddy Svane hit back as he retweeted the article and said, “Sorry – this is not true. Twisted News.”
The report had quoted Frederiksen as saying, “The situation is very very difficult for you,” has been deleted by The Hindu. It was clear that the report was fabricated or twisted to corner the Modi government over the situation of Wuhan coronavirus in India. The Hindu clearly wanted the article to project the meeting as a major embarrassment for PM Modi and display India’s decreasing clout among the global fraternity.
It is surprising that even the biggest of the media houses escape scot-free after spreading white lies which result in a major embarrassment for India.
The bilateral summit was significant in many ways as it was the first virtual summit held by India with a European country. Briefing journalists, joint secretary Neeta Bhushan said, “This was a new age partnership and will add a new dimension to our bilateral relations. This will help expand economic relations and green growth, and strengthen cooperation on addressing global challenges; with a focus on the implementation of the Paris Agreement and the climate change goals.”
PM Modi said during the summit, “COVID-19 has shown that it is risky to rely excessively on any single source of global supply chains. We are working together with Japan and Australia for supply-chain diversification and resilience. Other like-minded countries can also join the efforts.”
He also added, “The events of past few months have made it clear that how important it is for the like-minded countries, who share rule-based, transparent, humanitarian and democratic value-system, to work together.”
It was a very clear declaration that India is going all out to nudge like-minded countries to come together with the QUAD and diversify the global supply chain so that in case of any drastic downturn in the international relations, these countries don’t find themselves forced to toe the Communist Party of China’s line.