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Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks at the joint press statement with Prime Minister of Norway, Jonas Gahr Store (unseen), in Oslo<\/p>\nNews Desk<\/p>\n
Last Updated: 19 May 2026, 10:02 AM IST<\/p>\n
The episode also triggered political reactions in India, with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi taking a swipe at the Prime Minister over the incident.<\/p>\n
Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks at the joint press statement with Prime Minister of Norway, Jonas Gahr Store (unseen), in Oslo<\/p>\n
Oslo: Norwegian journalist Helle Lyng on Tuesday responded to criticism and online attacks following her remarks directed at Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Norway, asserting that she was \u201cnot a foreign spy of any sort\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cI never thought I would have to write this, but I am not a foreign spy of any sort, sent out by any foreign government. My work is journalism, primarily in Norway now,\u201d Lyng wrote on X amid the backlash on social media over her comments at a joint media appearance involving Modi and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store in Oslo.<\/p>\n
In another post, she wrote, \u201cJournalism 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 & duty. I want answers and not just talking points.\u201d<\/p>\n
The journalist had drawn attention after asking Modi why he would not take questions from the media following the leaders\u2019 press statements on Monday.<\/p>\n
\u201cPrime Minister Modi, why don\u2019t you take some questions from the freest press of the world?\u201d Lyng was heard asking as Modi exited the podium alongside Store after the media interaction.<\/p>\n
Later, Lyng shared the video of the moment on X and wrote, “Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, would not take my question. I was not expecting him to.”<\/p>\n
Referring to the latest World Press Freedom Index rankings<\/a>, she added, “Norway has the number one spot on the World Press Freedom Index, India is at 157th, competing with Palestine, the Emirates and Cuba.”<\/p>\n “It is our job to question the powers we cooperate with,” she further wrote.<\/p>\n The Embassy of India in Oslo later responded to Lyng on X, inviting her to attend a media briefing by officials from India\u2019s Ministry of External Affairs regarding Modi\u2019s visit to Norway.<\/p>\n The episode also triggered political reactions in India, with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi taking a swipe at the Prime Minister over the incident.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat happens to India’s image when the world sees a compromised PM panic and run from a few questions?\u201d Gandhi wrote on X, adding, \u201cwhen there is nothing to hide, there is nothing to fear\u201d.<\/p>\n Modi is currently on a six-day, five-nation tour<\/a> and arrived in Oslo to attend the third India-Nordic Summit and hold bilateral meetings with Nordic leaders.<\/p>\n Published: 19 May 2026, 10:02 am IST<\/p>\n