The Tense Encounter Between PM Modi and a Norwegian Journalist
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Norway, part of a five-nation tour, took an unexpected turn when a Norwegian journalist's attempt to ask him a question sparked a chain reaction that extended beyond the media room. The incident quickly went viral online, leading to a tense press briefing, a social media troll battle, and even political exchanges back in India.
A Question That Wasn't Answered
The episode began on Monday in Oslo during a joint press statement by PM Modi and his Norwegian counterpart, Jonas Gahr Støre. After their briefing, which did not include a question-and-answer session, a voice called out from the audience: “Prime Minister Modi, why don’t you take some questions from the freest press in the world?”
This was Helle Lyng, a journalist with the local newspaper Dagsavisen, who was covering the visit. As the leaders left the venue, she followed them all the way to the lift until the doors closed. She later posted a video of the encounter on X, captioning it, “Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, would not take my question, I was not expecting him to.” She also added, “Norway has the number one spot on the World Press Freedom Index, India is at 157th, competing with Palestine, Emirates and Cuba. It is our job to question the powers we cooperate with.”
MEA’s Response and the Press Briefing
In response to Lyng's post, the Indian embassy in Norway invited her to a news briefing later that evening. “You are welcome to come and ask your questions,” it wrote.
During the late-night briefing, Lyng asked, “Why should we trust you?” and “Can you promise you will stop the human rights violation that goes on in your country?” She also questioned whether PM Modi would start taking critical questions from the Indian press.
MEA Secretary (West) Sibi George responded at length, stating, “What is a country? A country today has four elements: population, government, sovereignty, and territory. And we are proud that we are a civilisational country of 5,000 years old.”
He then shifted the conversation to India's global contributions, citing its role in the pandemic, its historical contributions to human civilization, and its diplomatic efforts, including hosting the G20 Summit in 2023 and organizing the Voice of Global South Summits.
A Second Round on the Tour
This was not the first time the MEA had faced such questions. During the Netherlands leg of the trip, similar concerns about India's human rights situation and PM Modi's refusal to engage with the press were raised. In Oslo, George reiterated many of the same arguments, emphasizing India's constitutional framework and democratic processes.
He noted that India had a constitution guaranteeing fundamental rights, with women having the right to vote since 1947. He also mentioned the presence of around 200 TV channels in Delhi alone, across various languages.
As the exchange continued, tensions rose. When Lyng tried to interrupt for more specific answers, George became visibly irate, saying, “Please don’t interrupt me,” and later, “You ask a question, don’t ask me to answer in a particular way. These are my prerogatives.”
A Subplot on Social Media
A subplot emerged on X regarding whether Lyng had left the briefing while George was still speaking. She later clarified that she had only gone to get a cup of water. In another post, she emphasized the importance of journalism, stating, “Journalism is sometimes confrontational. We seek answers. If any interview subject, especially with power, does not answer what I asked, I will try to interrupt and get a more focused response. That is my job and duty.”
Lyng also faced online abuse, but she defended herself by stating, “I am not a foreign spy of any sort, sent out by any foreign government… My work is journalism, primarily in Norway now.”
Political Reactions and Continued Tensions
The incident drew reactions from Indian politicians. Congress MP and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi commented on X, questioning how India’s image was affected by PM Modi’s response. He said, “When there is nothing to hide, there is nothing to fear. What happens to India's image when the world sees a compromised PM panic and run from a few questions?”
BJP IT Cell chief Amit Malviya defended PM Modi, pointing out that the Norwegian prime minister also did not take questions during the joint briefing. However, Lyng countered that the Norwegian leader had taken questions from local press later that day.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh also joined the discussion, questioning PM Modi’s interactions with other leaders.
PM Modi departed Oslo for Italy on May 19 to complete the final leg of his five-nation tour. Several key pacts were signed during the visit, and he was honored by two of the countries.
No comments:
Post a Comment