Norwegian journalist Helle Lyng, who attempted to question Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he walked off stage with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, has reached out to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Twitter. Helle Lyng asked RaGa if he is available for an interview on the phone on Tuesday. "Hello, would you be available for a phone interview on Tuesday, Norwegian time. It would be interesting to hear how you view the visit to Norway," she asked the Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition.
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She was replying to his post on X when he shared a video from PM Modi's visit to Norway, where he could be seen walking away as Helle Lyng asked him to answer her question. Rahul Gandhi accused the PM of "panicking and "running away", he wrote on X, "When there is nothing to hide, there is nothing to fear. What happens to India’s image when the world sees a compromised PM panic and run from a few questions?" (sic)
In the video, journalist Helle Lyng could be heard asking: "PM Modi, why don't you take questions from the freest press in the world?".
Helle Lyng PM Modi controversy
Helle Lyng shared the footage of the incident on her X account and wrote: "Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, would not take my question, I was not expecting him to. Norway has the number one spot on the World Press Freedom Index, India is at 157th, competing with Palestine, the Emirates & Cuba. It is our job to question the powers we cooperate with."
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Later, the Indian embassy in Norway responded to her post, inviting her to a press briefing on PM Modi's visit. The post read, “The Embassy is organizing a press briefing on the Prime Minister’s Visit this evening at 9:30pm at hotel Raddisson BluPlaza hotel. You are most welcome to come and ask your questions there.”
Tense exchange in MEA press conference
During the press briefing, officials from India’s Ministry of External Affairs responded to questions raised by members of the Norwegian media.
Journalist Lyng, who was present at the briefing, asked, “Why should we trust you? Can you promise you will stop the human rights violation that goes on in your country? Will the prime minister start taking critical questions from the Indian press?"
In response, MEA Secretary (West) Sibi George spoke at length about India’s democratic framework and constitutional values. While explaining his point, George appeared visibly upset and said, “Please don't interrupt me.”
He further said, “We hear a lot of people asking why this, why that, but let me tell you this. We are one sixth of the total population of the world, but not one sixth of the problems of the world. We have a constitution which guarantees the fundamental rights of the people. We have equal rights for the women of our country, which is very important.”
“We believe in equality; We believe in human rights. If anyone whose rights are violated, they have the right to go to court. We are proud to be a democracy,” he added.
George also defended the scale and diversity of India’s media landscape, saying, “You know how many stories are up here. At least 200 TV channels in Delhi alone, in the English language, in Hindi language and multiple languages. People have no understanding of the scale of India. They read one or two news reports published by some godforsaken, ignorant NGOs and then come and ask questions.”
Responding to a question about whether Narendra Modi takes questions from journalists, George said it was his responsibility as the official handling the visit to address the media.
“I have been doing that and I will continue to do that,” George said.
