“Only those who do not understand India ask such questions!” - India gives a sharp response

During Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Norway, a foreign lady journalist questions India on Press Freedom and Human Rights!

Oslo (Norway), New Delhi – During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the European nation of Norway, he held a joint press conference with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. Journalists were not permitted to ask questions during the event. However, local journalist Helle Lyng attempted to question Prime Minister Modi. Since questions were not allowed as per the scheduled format, Modi did not respond. Following this, Helle Lyng criticized the matter on ‘X’, stating, “Norway ranks 1st in the World Press Freedom Index, while India ranks 157th. It is the job of journalists to question governments.” After this India’s Ministry of External Affairs had organised a press briefing.

🇮🇳 “Only those who do not know India ask such questions!” – MEA slams foreign media narrative on India’s democracy and press freedom.

Norwegian journalist Helle Lyng questioned India on press freedom and human rights during PM Modi’s Norway visit.

🔸 MEA’s strong reply:
•… pic.twitter.com/6BxLcKAAQq

— Sanatan Prabhat (@SanatanPrabhat) May 19, 2026

She confronted Indian officials there as well. She asked questions such as: “Why should we trust India? Will what is happening regarding human rights in India be stopped? Will the Prime Minister ever answer difficult questions from Indian media?” Responding sharply, Sibi George, Secretary (West) in India’s Ministry of External Affairs, said, “Many people do not understand the size of India and the scale of its media system. Delhi alone has more than 200 news channels. Thousands of news reports are broadcast daily in English, Hindi, and many other languages. People read reports from some unknown NGOs and then come here to ask questions.”

Sibi George further stated:

1. At the outset, it is important to understand what India is. A nation is made up of 4 things; population, government, sovereignty, and territory. India is an ancient civilization that has existed for over 5,000 years, and we have contributed greatly to the world.

2. During the COVID-19 pandemic, India did not isolate itself from the world. India helped other countries and supplied vaccines globally. That is the real reason why India should be trusted.

3. India has also raised important global issues and played a responsible role at forums such as the G20 (an organisation comprising the finance ministers and central bank governors of 19 countries and the European Union, which consists of 27 countries) and AI Summits (conferences based on Artificial Intelligence).

4. We constitute 1/6th of the world’s population, but not 1/6th of the world’s problems. If anyone’s rights are violated in India, they have the right to approach the courts, and India takes pride in its democracy.