Nehru’s 1957 Press Conference in Norway is in Sharp Contrast to Modi Not Facing a Single Question in 2026 |
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India’s first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru passed away on May 27, 1964. Nine days before the solemn occasion of his 62nd death anniversary, on May 18, 2026, when prime minister Modi was in Oslo, a young journalist of that country, Helle Lyng, asked, “Prime Minister Modi, why don’t you take some questions from the freest press in the world?” As Modi moved away without any response, those words reverberated not just in India but across the world. People wondered how Modi reconciled his bizarre stand to avoid press with his claim that India is a pulsating democracy.
Nehru facing the Norwegian press, Modi walking away
Modi moving away without responding to Lyng’s ringing words very strikingly reminded the contrasting image of Nehru who during his visit to Norway on June 22, 1957 was introduced by the then president of that country Rolf Jerving to the Norwegian press as a leading statesman of the world. Jerving urged them to avail of the rare opportunity of asking questions to such an internationally acclaimed personality. Nehru in turn displayed remarkable graciousness and gravitas and told the Norwegian journalists, “I shall leave myself in your hands to be dealt with, I hope, gently and kindly.”
So, Nehru facing the Norwegian press in 1957 and 69 years later, Modi avoiding a sharp query of Lyng, “Prime Minister Modi why don’t you take some questions from the freest press in the world?” indicates how the high stature of India during Nehru era has been demolished during Modi’s tenure as prime minister.
Lyng is absolutely right in asking,........