The New York Times issued an apology to its readers in response to criticism received about a prejudiced and racist cartoon on India’s Mars mission.

The cartoon showed a farmer with a cow knocking at the door of a room marked Elite Space Club where two men sit reading a newspaper on India’s achievement. The cartoon was carried with an article titled India’s Budget Mission to Mars.

Last month, India successfully put the Mangalyaan probe into orbit around Mars. The total cost of the Indian mission reached 4.5 billion rupees (about $74m), making it the cheapest interplanetary space mission.

Andrew Rosenthal, Editorial Page Editor, issued a clarification on the article and the cartoon.
“The intent of the cartoonist, Heng Kim Song, was to highlight how space exploration is no longer the exclusive domain of rich, Western countries,” Mr Rosenthal said adding that “Mr Heng, who is based in Singapore, uses images and text – often in a provocative way – to make observations about international affairs. We apologise to readers who were offended by the choice of images in this cartoon.”

Mr. Rosenthal said Mr. Heng “was in no way trying to impugn India, its government or its citizens”.