News Tamil Nadu

The Hindu Publishes Distorted India Map Omitting Sikkim, Faces Backlash, Issues Apology Later

May 15, 2025
The Commune

The Hindu has once again found itself at the center of a major controversy following the publication of its 13 May 2025 edition. In the Opinion section on page 7, the newspaper featured a map of India that conspicuously omitted Sikkim — an integral part of the country. This omission has sparked significant public outcry and backlash across social media platforms. As in previous instances, The Hindu has once again issued an apology, accompanied by unconvincing excuses.

The Hindu stated, “Due to a data input error, the India map in the article, ‘With a new Pope, an understanding of Catholicism in India,’ which appeared in the Data Point section on May 13, 2025, was incorrectly presented with the contours of Sikkim State being shaded out. We apologise for the error. The map and the references have been removed from the story online, and corrected in our e-paper editions. — The Editor”

Critics have accused The Hindu of intentionally misrepresenting the national map, raising concerns over its editorial stance. The newspaper, often viewed as sympathetic to opposition voices and left-leaning ideologies, has recently faced allegations of promoting narratives that undermine India’s national integrity and security.

This incident follows a previous controversy where The Hindu reported — without verification — that Pakistan had downed Indian Rafale fighter jets, a claim later debunked. The newspaper was forced to retract the report and issue an apology after facing intense scrutiny. The recent map error has further fueled accusations that The Hindu is adopting an anti-India posture, prompting many netizens to label it as “anti-national.”

The Hindu’s Dubious Track Record: A Pattern Emerges

This is far from the first time The Hindu has shown questionable editorial judgment in matters of national interest. In fact, under the guise of “independent journalism,” the publication and journalists like Vijaita Singh have repeatedly eroded public trust through selective, inflammatory, and often erroneous reporting.

During the Rafale controversy, The Hindu was accused of editing and misrepresenting official documents to manufacture a scandal. Now, as India defends its citizens after a brutal terrorist attack in Pahalgam, the paper once again published misleading reports suggesting aircraft crashes—claims immediately debunked by defense experts as misinterpreted fuel tank jettisoning. After facing backlash, The Hindu quietly deleted the post—without apology or correction—underscoring the dangerous impact of real-time misinformation.

Vijaita Singh’s Coverage of Manipur: Irresponsible And Inflammatory

Beyond the Kashmir-Pakistan narrative, Vijaita Singh’s reporting during the Manipur ethnic conflict stands out for its recklessness. Since violence erupted in May 2023, her articles have repeatedly highlighted unverified claims, inflammatory statements, and misleading headlines that have only deepened the rift between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities.

In March 2025, Singh quoted a protester who accused security forces of saying, “We are not Indians”—a claim that was later walked back by the protester themselves. Still, Singh chose to amplify the quote without context, potentially stoking anti-security sentiment in a state already teetering on the edge.

In January 2024, she authored a report claiming that “Meitei MLAs call for positive action,” which was later clarified by The Hindu itself to be factually incorrect. The resolution in question had not been passed exclusively by Meitei MLAs, as originally reported—an error with significant communal implications.

In another instance, Singh reported on Chief Minister N. Biren Singh skipping a North Eastern Council meeting, framing it as a rebuke of the central government. Once again, her narrative placed the state and Centre at odds during a period requiring collaboration and restraint.

Vijaita Singh has also been accused of leaking sensitive information, including the names of Army officers stationed in Manipur. This reckless act drew comparisons to the infamous 2008 Barkha Dutt controversy, where journalism blurred into national compromise.

The Real Cost of Misinformation

In a volatile democracy like India, journalistic irresponsibility can escalate crises. Reports like those by Vijaita Singh not only inflame public sentiment but also risk undermining the very institutions tasked with maintaining order. The Hindu, by repeatedly pushing such narratives, is no longer just failing at journalism—it is actively eroding national cohesion and aiding disinformation networks, wittingly or not.

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