AFP via Getty ImagesA Norwegian journalist's question to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has sparked a controversy in his country.
Modi was on a two-day official visit to Oslo this week. As he walked away after a joint press appearance with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, journalist Helle Lyng called out to him, asking why he does not take questions, but got no response.
Later in a press conference by Indian diplomats, Lyng asked, "Why should we trust you (India)? Can you try to stop the human rights violations that goes on in your country?"
India has rejected the allegations, highlighting its "commitment to justice and freedom". Lyng later told BBC Hindi that it was her "duty to ask" the questions.
Modi has not held a traditional solo press conference since taking office in 2014, and has rarely answered questions from journalists on his trips abroad.
Lyng has faced intense online backlash and trolling following the exchange, with some social media users in India branding her a "foreign plant" and a "spy" and accusing her of attempting to embarrass India on the global stage.
Some Indian news channels have also criticised her approach, saying it was disrespectful towards a head of state.
Addressing such allegations, Lyng told BBC Hindi: "That's how confrontational journalism works. You have to try to interrupt. You have to try to get more answers. And the answers that you are looking for. And, no, I did not get that."
Lyng was among journalists at an event in Oslo where the two prime ministers said they would not take questions.
As they left, she called out: "Prime Minister Modi, why don't you take some questions from the freest press in the world?" He did not respond.
Lyng later shared a video of the exchange on X, along with posts raising concerns about press freedom and human rights in India. Other videos showed her trying to ask Modi a follow-up question before officials stopped her.
Later, the Indian embassy in Norway shared Lyng's post on X and invited her to an evening press briefing, saying she was "most welcome" to ask her questions there.
At the briefing, Lyng asked why India should be trusted despite allegations of human rights violations - a question she said she had wanted to put to Modi.
Senior Indian diplomat Sibi George rejected the allegations, saying India's Constitution guarantees democracy and freedoms of thought, expression, belief and worship.
"People have no understanding of the scale of India. They read one or two reports published by some God-forsaken, ignorant NGOs and then come and ask questions. Don't worry about it. We are proud to be a democracy; we are a democratic society for centuries," he added.
Lyng later told BBC Hindi that she writes for national newspapers in Norway and said her questions on alleged human rights violations in India were based on what she called "trusted sources", including global organisations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.
"I know that your prime minister does not like to take questions, but it was my duty to ask," she said.
India ranked 157th out of 180 countries in the latest annual World Press Freedom Index published by Reporters Without Borders last month - a list that Norway has topped for several years now.
Earlier this week, during Modi's visit to the Netherlands, two Dutch journalists questioned India's foreign ministry over alleged declines in minority rights and press freedom, prompting a similar rebuttal from diplomat George.
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