A Bold Question from a Norwegian Journalist
A Norwegian journalist has captured global attention for her bold questioning of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Norway. Helle Lyng, a reporter for Dagsavisen in Oslo, gained widespread recognition on social media after challenging the Indian leader and his officials with tough questions about press freedom and human rights.
During a joint statement event with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, Lyng asked, “Prime Minister Modi, why don’t you take some questions from the freest press in the world?” Modi did not stop to respond, leaving Lyng’s question unanswered. She later shared the moment on social media, stating, “Prime minister of India, Narendra Modi, would not take my question, I was not expecting him to.” She emphasized that it is her job to question those in power, even when they are partners in international cooperation.
India's ranking in the 2026 World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders places it at 157th out of 180 countries, still in the "very serious" category. This marks a drop of six places from its 2025 ranking. In contrast, Norway ranks first in the index.
Lyng’s questioning escalated into a tense exchange during a press briefing by the Indian foreign ministry. She pressed officials on whether India could promise to stop human rights violations and if Modi would start taking questions from the Indian media. Senior diplomat Sibi George defended India's democratic credentials, highlighting the country's actions during the pandemic as an example of its global contributions.
George argued that India's constitution guarantees fundamental rights and equal treatment for women. He criticized what he called a limited international understanding of India's media landscape, suggesting that reports questioning human rights violations were based on biased or uninformed sources.
Lyng later noted that she struggled to get specific answers on human rights issues. She mentioned that officials focused on India's efforts during the pandemic and other topics like yoga, rather than addressing her concerns directly.
Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi also commented on the incident, questioning how India's image is affected when the prime minister avoids difficult questions. He suggested that if there is nothing to hide, there is nothing to fear.
Concerns Raised by the Dutch Prime Minister
Over the weekend, Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten expressed concerns about the erosion of press freedom and minority rights in India ahead of his meeting with Modi. According to the newspaper De Volkskrant, Jetten spoke to the press before the meeting and addressed these issues.
Jetten stated that the concerns extend beyond press freedom to include the rights of minorities, particularly the Muslim community. He questioned whether India remains an inclusive society where everyone has equal rights. Human rights groups have raised similar concerns, citing the rhetoric of Modi's BJP against minorities and recent incidents of sectarian violence around Hindu religious festivals, as well as state-sponsored demolitions of mostly Muslim properties.
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