A sharp exchange between India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and a Norwegian journalist has gone viral after questions were raised about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s interaction with the media during his Norway visit.
The tense moment unfolded during an MEA press briefing in Oslo, where journalists questioned Indian officials over alleged human rights concerns and press freedom in India after PM Modi did not take questions during a joint press appearance with Norway’s Prime Minister.
PM Modi’s Exit Sparks Debate
The controversy began after Norwegian journalist Helle Lyng shared a video on social media showing Prime Minister Narendra Modi leaving the venue without taking questions from reporters.
In the clip, a journalist can be heard shouting, “Why don’t you take some questions from the world’s freest press?”
Sharing the video, Lyng pointed out that Norway ranks first on the World Press Freedom Index while India ranks much lower, saying journalists have a responsibility to question leaders their countries engage with diplomatically.
The video quickly triggered reactions online, with supporters and critics debating media freedom, diplomacy and political accountability.
Tense Exchange At MEA Briefing
The issue resurfaced during a later MEA media briefing when the same journalist questioned Indian officials directly.
She asked why countries should “trust India” and raised allegations regarding human rights violations and media freedom.
In response, MEA Secretary (West) Sibi George delivered a firm and detailed defence of India’s democratic system and constitutional framework.
“India is a civilisational country of 5,000 years with a continuous civilisation,” George said while explaining India’s democratic values and global contributions.
As interruptions continued during the interaction, George visibly lost patience and asked the journalist not to interrupt him while answering.
“You ask a question, don’t ask me to answer in a particular way,” he responded sharply.
‘Go To Court’: Sibi George Defends Indian Democracy
Sibi George strongly defended India’s institutions, saying the country guarantees constitutional rights and legal remedies to all citizens.
“If anyone’s rights are violated, they have the right to go to court. We are proud to be a democracy,” he said.
He also highlighted India’s democratic history, pointing out that women received voting rights immediately after independence in 1947.
George further cited India’s role during the Covid-19 pandemic, global diplomacy efforts, and humanitarian outreach as examples of why countries trust India.
MEA Slams ‘Ignorant NGOs’
The MEA official also criticised what he described as limited understanding of India’s media ecosystem among some foreign observers.
“We have hundreds of TV channels and one of the world’s largest media landscapes. People read one or two reports from ignorant NGOs and come asking questions,” George remarked during the briefing.
His comments instantly went viral across social media platforms, with many users praising his assertive defence of India while others debated the concerns raised by the journalist.
PM Modi Continues Europe Tour
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is currently on a multi-nation Europe tour that includes visits to the UAE, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway and Italy.
The Norway visit focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation in trade, technology, renewable energy and Arctic partnerships between India and the Nordic region.
Despite the diplomatic agenda, the press freedom exchange became one of the most discussed moments from the visit online.
