Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi shared a video from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Norway, showing the Prime Minister walking away as a Norwegian journalist asked him to take questions. Gandhi accused him of panicking and running away, saying that a leader with nothing to hide should not fear answering the press. He questioned the impact on India’s global image if the Prime Minister avoids media scrutiny.

In the video, journalist Helle Lyng is heard asking why the Prime Minister does not take questions from what she described as the freest press in the world. She later posted the footage on social media platform X, noting Norway’s top ranking in the World Press Freedom Index and contrasting it with India’s position. She said it was the responsibility of journalists to question leaders their country cooperates with.

The Prime Minister’s ongoing five nation tour has drawn criticism from opposition parties. They have also questioned the timing of his foreign visits after his appeal to citizens to limit overseas travel to conserve fuel amid the Middle East crisis.