Editors Guild calls PM Modi-Europe media face-offs ‘embarrassing’, raises press freedom concerns

The Editors Guild of India has said the confrontations between Indian officials and journalists in Norway and the Netherlands during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Europe visit as “embarrassing”, while raising concerns over press freedom and the shrinking space for media questioning in India.

In a strongly worded statement, the Guild said it was concerned by the “stand-offs” that emerged after Modi declined to take questions from local journalists following press briefings during the visit.

The remarks came after Norwegian journalist Helle Lyng Svendsen publicly questioned why the Indian prime minister does not answer questions from the media during official interactions. The exchange drew widespread attention online and reignited debate around Modi’s media engagement practices.

Editors Guild raises concern over lack of press conferences

In its statement, the Guild said it was a “regrettable fact” that Modi had not addressed an open press conference during his more than 12 years in office as prime minister.

The organisation also argued that the reluctance to engage with journalists was increasingly visible across different levels of government.

“The same intolerance to being questioned is increasingly being manifested at all levels of government,” the Guild said, according to the statement.

The body further stressed that journalists asking questions in a democracy should not be viewed as adversarial behaviour.

Norway and Netherlands incidents triggered debate

The controversy began during Modi’s visit to Norway when journalist Helle Lyng Svendsen asked why the Indian prime minister did not take questions from “the freest press in the world” as he exited a joint press interaction without taking media queries.

Later, during a separate interaction organised by the Indian embassy, Svendsen questioned Indian officials about press freedom, human rights concerns and whether Modi would eventually begin taking questions from Indian journalists.

In response, senior Indian diplomat Sibi George defended India’s democratic record and highlighted the country’s civilisational history and contributions, including yoga, chess and the invention of zero.

The exchanges subsequently triggered wider political and media debate in India over government communication practices and press freedom rankings.

Guild points to India’s press freedom ranking

The Editors Guild also referred to the World Press Freedom Index, noting that Norway and the Netherlands are ranked first and second respectively, while India is placed significantly lower.

While acknowledging that international rankings may be debated, the Guild said India’s position reflected growing concern over restrictions on media functioning and the space available for independent journalism.

The organisation urged the government not to treat the media as an adversary merely for seeking accountability from those in power.

Founded in 1978, the Editors Guild of India is a non-profit body representing editors and senior journalists and has historically issued statements on press freedom, media rights and attacks on journalists.