PM Modi's Norway Visit: Journalists Question Avoidance of Press Queries

During his visit to Norway, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi faced scrutiny from journalists over his avoidance of press questions. Norwegian journalist Helle Lyng publicly called out Modi as he left a press event without engaging reporters, noting Norway's high press freedom ranking compared to India's significantly lower position. She highlighted that foreign leaders in Norway typically take questions, but this did not happen with Modi.

The Indian Embassy in Norway responded by inviting Lyng to a later press briefing. She attended and posed questions about human rights concerns in India but reported that officials focused on other topics like yoga and India's Covid-19 response. They did not directly address her specific inquiries regarding human rights.

Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi criticized Modi for avoiding journalists, suggesting leaders with "nothing to hide" should not "panic and run" from questions. Lyng later denied accusations of being a foreign agent, stating her actions were part of her journalistic work. This incident marked the second time during Modi's five-nation tour that foreign media raised concerns over limited press access. Despite the controversy, Modi received Norway's highest civilian award for strengthening bilateral ties.