New Delhi: Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for allegedly avoiding questions from a Norwegian journalist during his visit to Norway.
Sharing a post by Norwegian journalist Heli Ling on social media platform X, Rahul Gandhi wrote, “When the world sees a compromised PM running away from a few questions, what impact does it have on India’s image? If there is nothing to hide, there is nothing to fear.”
The controversy arose after Modi and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre addressed a joint press conference on Monday during Modi’s two-day Norway visit, but did not take questions from the media.
As the two leaders were leaving the venue, journalist Heli Ling asked Modi why he does not answer questions from what she described as “the world’s freest press.”
After receiving no response, Ling later shared a video on X and stated that Norway ranks first on the World Press Freedom Index, while India ranks 157th. She added that India is placed alongside countries such as Palestine, the UAE and Cuba in the rankings.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of External Affairs responded by reposting Ling’s comments on May 18 and inviting her to attend an official press briefing being organised by the Indian Embassy regarding the Prime Minister’s visit, where she could ask her questions directly.
