New Delhi: The New York Times has apologised for carrying a cartoon allegedly mocking the India’s Space Mission, which showed a turban-wearing man with a cow knocking at the door of the "Elite Space Club".
Andrew Rosenthal, Editorial Page Editor of the New York Times, has said in a Facebook post that the intent of the cartoonist, Heng Kim Song, was to highlight how space exploration is no longer the exclusive domain of rich, Western countries.
“We apologize to readers who were offended by the choice of images in this cartoon. Mr. Heng was in no way trying to impugn India, its government or its citizens. We appreciate that readers have shared their feedback, which we welcome,” he said.
The cartoon showcased a poor man with a turban on his head and dragging a cow along, knocking on the door of the Elite Space Club. They appeared unhappy with the Indian man knocking at their door.
The cartoon had drawn immediate criticism for being racist in content.