A question from a New Zealand journalist about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s absence from press conferences sparked a diplomatic response during his visit to New Zealand, with a senior Indian official defending the Prime Minister’s style of public communication.
The exchange took place during an interaction with Indian diplomats on Modi’s final stop of his three-nation foreign tour, which focused on strengthening India-New Zealand ties.
Journalist asks about Modi’s press conferences
During the media interaction, a journalist asked Indian officials:
“Why has PM Modi not done a press conference?”
Responding to the question, Rudrendra Tandon, a senior official in the Ministry of External Affairs, said it would not be appropriate for him, as a civil servant, to comment on the Prime Minister’s political strategy.
‘Direct contact with the electorate’
Tandon said Modi prefers communicating directly with people rather than through intermediaries.
He described the Prime Minister as a politician who has built his public outreach around direct engagement with voters, adding that this approach has contributed to his sustained electoral success.
According to Tandon, Modi’s repeated electoral victories, including his third consecutive term as Prime Minister, reflect the effectiveness of that communication model.
Similar question raised in Norway
The issue had surfaced earlier during Modi’s visit to Norway in May.
At a joint media appearance with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, journalist Helle Lyng called out to Modi as he was leaving the venue and asked why he does not take questions from journalists.
The Prime Minister did not respond, and the incident later drew attention across sections of the media and social media.
Historic New Zealand visit
Modi arrived in Auckland on Friday for what he described as a historic visit—the first by an Indian Prime Minister to New Zealand in nearly four decades.
To mark the occasion, Auckland’s Sky Tower was illuminated in the colours of the Indian tricolour.
During the visit, the Prime Minister interacted with members of the Indian diaspora and attended cultural events showcasing India’s diverse traditions.
The visit follows the India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement signed earlier this year, with both countries aiming to expand cooperation in trade, investment and strategic partnerships.
