YouTuber Dhruv Rathee took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his record of holding press conferences after conducting his first press conference and sharing a video of the event on social media.
Speaking before taking questions, Rathee said public figures should remain accountable to citizens and argued that press conferences were an important part of that accountability.
“This is my first press conference. Before you ask questions, I would like to say that look at the state of the country today. A small YouTuber from a small village in Haryana is giving a press conference. But our Prime Minister has not been able to give a press conference in 12 years,” Rathee said.
He added that every public figure should face questions from the public.
“Every public person should have accountability in front of the public. That is why a press conference is important and that is why I have come in front of you today,” he said.
Dhruv Rathee’s ‘My score 1, PM score 0’ remark
Sharing a video of the press conference on X, Rathee captioned it: “Press Conferences — Dhruv Rathee: 1, Narendra Modi: 0.”
The remark was a direct political criticism of the Prime Minister’s press-conference record.
Rathee’s press conference came shortly after his detention by Gurugram Police ahead of a planned protest in Delhi concerning allegations of irregularities in electoral rolls and demands for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Rathee speaks about detention
Rathee was detained from his Gurugram residence on Saturday before the planned protest and was released around 3 am on Sunday after being held for about 18 hours, according to police. Authorities said he was detained after allegedly refusing warnings not to travel to Delhi for a protest where prohibitory orders were in force.
After his release, Rathee disputed the police description of the action, saying he had been “kidnapped” rather than detained. He also alleged that he was injured and prevented from contacting his lawyers during the episode.
Gurugram Police rejected allegations of mistreatment, saying the process was conducted peacefully and that officers followed the required protocols. Police said Rathee was detained under Section 172(2) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and released within 24 hours.
The detention and the competing accounts from Rathee and the police have become part of the wider political dispute surrounding the planned protest and demands concerning the Election Commission.
