Questions surrounding Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decision to avoid solo press conferences have resurfaced during his overseas visits, with journalists in Norway, Australia and New Zealand raising concerns over his engagement with the media.
The latest discussion was reignited by Norwegian journalist Helle Lyng, who first made headlines during Modi’s visit to Oslo in May. As the Prime Minister walked past without responding to her question, Lyng had asked, “Why don’t you take some questions from the freest press in the world?” The exchange quickly gained international attention and triggered a broader debate on press freedom and media access.
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During Modi’s recent visit to New Zealand, a journalist posed a similar question to Ministry of External Affairs Secretary (East) Rudrendra Tandon, asking why the Prime Minister had not addressed a press conference. Tandon defended Modi’s public engagement, saying the Prime Minister regularly communicates with citizens through speeches and public interactions while highlighting India’s democratic institutions.
A day earlier in Australia, a television reporter remarked that Modi “famously avoids unscripted news conferences,” a clip that was widely shared on social media and revived political debate in India.
Responding on social media platform X, Lyng welcomed the discussion spreading beyond Norway, saying she hoped journalists in other democracies would continue asking similar questions. She added that even smaller countries could contribute meaningfully to conversations around press freedom and accountability.
The issue has remained a recurring point of political debate since Modi assumed office in 2014. While the Prime Minister frequently addresses election rallies, official events and grants interviews to selected media outlets, he has not held a standalone press conference during his tenure. One of the few occasions where he answered questions from journalists was during a joint press interaction with then US President Joe Biden at the White House in 2023.
The renewed scrutiny has once again brought Modi’s media engagement strategy into focus, both domestically and internationally.
