India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) responds to questions raised by Norwegian media regarding Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s engagement with critical press. According to the Norwegian journalist, she asked why Norway should “trust” India and whether India can promise to stop alleged human-rights violations, as well as whether Modi would take critical questions from the Indian press. Reports say the journalist felt the prime minister did not address her question during his visit to Norway, part of his current five-nation tour.
In its response, the MEA emphasizes India’s democratic character and points to the country’s scale, including its large population and extensive media environment. The ministry also disputes the framing of the questions, stating that some claims reflect a lack of understanding of India’s context. It further criticizes certain non-governmental organizations as “ignorant,” and argues that the democratic and rights-based foundations of India are not being fairly represented.
The MEA’s stance centers on defending India’s democratic institutions and the broader media landscape while responding to Norwegian press criticism about Modi’s handling of the journalist’s query.
