Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Norway drew fresh attention over issues related to press freedom after he left a joint appearance without taking questions from journalists. Norwegian commentator Helle Lyng publicly questioned Modi as he exited the stage alongside Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, asking why he would not take questions from “the freest press in the world.” The moment quickly gained traction online, especially after Lyng highlighted Norway’s top ranking in the World Press Freedom Index compared to India’s much lower position.

Later during a media briefing in Oslo, MEA Secretary (West) Sibi George faced sharp questions from Norwegian journalists regarding human rights, minority concerns, and media freedom in India. One journalist directly asked why international observers should trust India amid allegations of rights violations and whether Prime Minister Modi would eventually begin taking unscripted questions from the press. In response, George defended India by referring to the country’s democratic traditions, constitutional guarantees, diversity, media landscape, and global contributions, including vaccine diplomacy and India’s role during the Covid pandemic.

The exchange became tense after interruptions during George’s lengthy response, with the diplomat insisting on answering in his own manner and criticizing what he described as uninformed narratives shaped by selective reports and NGOs. He argued that India’s scale, diversity, and democratic institutions are often misunderstood internationally. Following the press conference, journalist Helle Lyng reportedly faced heavy online trolling over her questions, later clarifying publicly that she was simply performing her role as a journalist and was not connected to any foreign agenda or intelligence operation.