I do not know if it would be different had it been a US launch, but know for sure NYT has a history of trying to undermine any/all progress made by India, especially during the last term and the existing term of Narendra Modi Government.

It appears the NYT journos know more about India than Indians, who elected Narendra Modi by landslide majority (last and this term). NYT regularly tries to highlight isolated incidents as communal rift (standard playbook on India).