A pointed question at a press conference in Oslo has set off a wave of reactions after India’s Ministry of External Affairs Secretary (West) Sibi George struggled to respond to a Norwegian journalist asking why India should be trusted, citing the country’s human rights record, shrinking press freedom and treatment of minorities.
The exchange took place on the sidelines of the India-Nordic Summit in Oslo on Monday, where India and the five Nordic countries Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland and Denmark were meeting to strengthen strategic and trade ties.
The summit, now in its third edition, came months after India signed a free trade agreement with the European Union (EU) and a year after inking a trade and economic partnership agreement with Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
Visibly rattled by the journalist’s tone and repeated interruptions, George pushed back. “We hear a lot of people asking why this, why that, but let me tell you this. We are one sixth of the total population of the world, but not one sixth of the problems of the world,” he said.
“We have a constitution which guarantees the fundamental rights of the people. We have equal rights for the women of our country, which is very important,” he added.
However, with the clip of the exchange spread quickly, drawing sharp reactions on social media.
Pakistani journalist Fahd Hussain also weighed in, writing that “Indian govt reps are so cringe”.
“Sibi George is a very good example of how much standards and benchmarks have plummeted in Modi’s new India. Rank mediocrity has risen to the top in the past 12 years,” wrote one user on X.
Others were equally cutting. “I thought he would start crying at any moment given the extreme display of feeling slighted and the rage and indignation. Why this emotional? UPSC training doesn’t teach diplomacy?” another user remarked.
The Oslo conference threw up another awkward moment when Modi refused to take questions from Norwegian journalist Hella Lyng after his meeting with Norwegian PM Jonas Gahr Store, with the elevator doors closing before she could reach him.
“Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, would not take my question. I was not expecting him to,” Lyng wrote on X, noting that Norway tops the World Press Freedom Index while India sits at 157th — alongside Palestine, the Emirates and Cuba.
