PM Modi Europe Visit 2026: A diplomatic-media controversy erupted during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ongoing European tour after he maintained his long-standing policy of not taking direct questions from the press during bilateral events.
The decision to skip media queries in both Norway and the Netherlands triggered sharp reactions from local journalists, forcing the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to defend the format of the state visits.
Tense Confrontation During Oslo Press Briefing
PM Modi Europe Visit 2026: The incident occurred at the Government Guest House in Oslo, following a joint press appearance by Prime Minister Modi and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.
Adhering to the strict protocol set by the Indian delegation, the scheduled event was restricted solely to the reading of pre-prepared statements by both leaders, with no slot allocated for an open Q&A session.
As both prime ministers finished their remarks and began walking out of the room, Helle Lyng Svendsen, a correspondent for the Norwegian publication Dagsavisen, broke the scripted proceedings. Standing up to challenge the Indian leader directly, she called out:
Prime Minister Modi, why don’t you take questions from the world’s freest press?
PM Modi Europe Visit 2026: When PM Modi continued walking without offering a response, Svendsen followed the exiting delegation and threw a second question:
“Are you worthy of our government’s trust?” The Prime Minister skipped the queries entirely and proceeded to his next engagement without offering a reaction.
A Recurring Pattern in the Netherlands
This confrontation in Oslo marks the second time in less than 48 hours that the Indian delegation faced pushback over its media restrictions.
Just two days prior, on Saturday (May 17) during PM Modi’s visit to the Netherlands, Dutch journalists voiced similar objections when they were informed that the Prime Minister would bypass the customary interactive session and deliver only a one-way statement.
In most European democracies, it is standard political practice for visiting heads of government to take unscripted questions from the press, making the Indian delegation’s rigid format a focal point of criticism among local media houses.
Talk to the Diplomats, Not the PM, MEA Defends Protocol
As local press frustration spilled over into the official evening briefings, India’s Ministry of External Affairs mounted a firm defense of its press policy.
Responding to tough questioning from European reporters, Sibi George, India’s Secretary (West), made it clear that handling media queries is the responsibility of designated diplomats, not the Prime Minister.
“As the Secretary in charge of this tour, addressing the media and answering your questions is my responsibility,” George stated firmly to the press corps. “That is what I have been doing, and I will continue to do so.”
When explicitly asked by reporters if the host European governments had requested PM Modi to alter his stance and take questions, George clarified to The Hindu that no such request had been made by any host administration.
Live Press Conferences Remain an Exception
Throughout his twelve years in office, unscripted bilateral press conferences for PM Modi have remained rare exceptions rather than the standard rule.
While there have been high-profile exceptions, such as his joint press conferences with US President Joe Biden in 2023 and US President Donald Trump in Washington in 2025, the Indian government consistently prioritizes solo addresses and tightly controlled statements over open media interactions during international visits.
Despite the friction in the media room, official diplomatic engagements between India and the host European nations regarding trade, green energy, and bilateral cooperation have reportedly proceeded as scheduled.
Also Read : India-Vietnam Defense Pact: Rajnath Singh and President To Lam Announce AI & Quantum Tech Collaboration