During a two-day official visit to Oslo this week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in a joint press appearance with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store. As the leaders exited the event, journalist Helle Lyng called out to Modi asking why he does not take questions from journalists. The Prime Minister did not respond.
Later, at a press conference conducted by Indian diplomatic officials, Lyng was given an opportunity to raise her concerns. She asked, “Why should we trust you (India)? Can you try to stop the human rights violations that goes on in your country?”
The Government of India rejected the allegations, reiterating its commitment to justice and freedom and emphasizing constitutional guarantees of democracy and civil liberties.
The exchange quickly gained international attention after Lyng shared a video of the incident on social media platform X. She also posted comments raising concerns about press freedom and human rights conditions in India.
Journalist Helle Lyng has since faced significant online backlash, including trolling, with some social media users labeling her a “foreign plant” and a “spy,” accusing her of attempting to embarrass India on the global stage. Certain Indian news channels also criticized her approach, calling it disrespectful toward a visiting head of state.
Responding to the criticism, Lyng told the BBC’s Hindi-language service that it was her professional duty to ask difficult questions. She stated that confrontational journalism requires persistence and follow-up questioning, even when answers are not provided.
Lyng was among journalists present at an event where both Prime Ministers had already agreed not to take questions. As they departed, she called out, “Prime Minister Modi, why don’t you take some questions from the freest press in the world?” No response was given. Additional footage later showed her attempting to ask follow-up questions before officials intervened.
Following the incident, the Indian Embassy in Norway reposted Lyng’s statement on social media and extended an invitation for her to attend an evening press briefing, stating she was welcome to raise her questions there.
At the briefing, senior Indian diplomat Sibi George rejected the allegations, asserting that India’s Constitution guarantees democracy along with freedoms of thought, expression, belief, and worship. He further criticized external reporting, stating that critics rely on selective reports from what he described as unreliable non-governmental organizations before questioning India’s democratic framework, adding that India remains proud of its long-standing democratic tradition.
Lyng stated that her questions were based on what she described as trusted sources, including international organizations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. She also noted that she writes for national newspapers in Norway and reiterated that her intention was to seek accountability.
India currently ranks 157th out of 180 countries in the latest World Press Freedom Index published by Reporters Without Borders, while Norway continues to hold the top position in global press freedom rankings.
The incident has intensified scrutiny over the relationship between political leadership, international journalism, and press freedom standards, highlighting contrasting perceptions between India and Western media institutions.
About The Author
Comment List