A Norwegian journalist who publicly questioned Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his reluctance to face the press has been barred from travelling to India, triggering fresh concerns about press freedom and the treatment of foreign journalists critical of the government.
Helle Lyng Svendsen, a journalist with Norway’s Dagsavisen newspaper, said her Indian visa was cancelled on November 11, just minutes before she was scheduled to leave for the airport to attend the Bharat Summit in Hyderabad.
She had been invited to speak about the future of media and press freedom at the November 13–14 conference, organized by the Congress-led Telangana government.
According to Svendsen, the Indian Embassy in Oslo contacted her approximately 10 minutes before her departure and informed her that she could not travel, despite having received a visa and political clearance.
In a video message addressed to Indian Home Minister Amit Shah, she alleged that the cancellation followed instructions from India’s Ministry of Home Affairs.
Svendsen questioned whether the decision was linked to her criticism of Modi and his government, describing it as potentially politically motivated.
The journalist attracted international attention during Modi’s visit to Oslo on May 18, when she challenged him for leaving a joint media appearance with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre without taking journalists’ questions.
Modi did not respond.
Svendsen subsequently raised questions about human rights and press freedom during another briefing with Indian officials, leading to a tense exchange.
She has also published criticism of Modi’s government and prominent Indian business figures.
The visa cancellation prompted the Association of Norwegian Editors and the Norwegian Press Association to write to the Indian Embassy in Oslo on November 13, seeking an explanation.
The organizations warned that refusing entry to journalists because of their reporting or questions would undermine press freedom.
They also sought assurances that Norwegian journalists would not face similar restrictions.
The controversy comes amid longstanding criticism of India’s treatment of foreign journalists and restrictions on independent reporting.
The dispute has also widened politically.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor alleged on Friday that 115 of 315 speakers cleared for the summit were denied entry or had their visas cancelled.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs responded that visa decisions were a sovereign matter, without publicly explaining Svendsen’s case.
The Home Ministry had not issued a public response at the time of reporting.