Norwegian journalist Helle Lyng, who got global spotlight after attempting to question Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his press conference in Oslo, has now reached out to Rahul Gandhi for an interview. Lyng has found her in the midst of a controversy after video of her interaction went viral on social media. PM didn’t respond to her query and she later questioned press freedom.
Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi shared the video on X and accused the PM of ‘running away from questions’. ‘When there is nothing to hide, there is nothing to fear. What happens to India’s image when the world sees a compromised PM panic and run from a few questions?’ he wrote.
When there is nothing to hide, there is nothing to fear.
What happens to India’s image when the world sees a compromised PM panic and run from a few questions? https://t.co/tOO8vzESpf
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) May 18, 2026
Lyng replied to the post, asking if he would like to give her an interview. ‘Hello, would you be available for a phone interview Tuesday Norwegian time. It would be interesting to hear how you view the visit to Norway’, she asked. Rahul Gandhi has not yet reacted to the journalist’s request.
However, the journalist was again targeted and trolled on social media with some claiming that it looked ‘staged and planned’. Some mocked Rahul Gandhi in the comments section and said it would be like a ‘comedy show’.
On a serious note Rahul Gandhi is the leader of Opposition. I beg you PLEASE DO INTERVIEW HIM, if he is up for it.
I haven’t watched a good comedy show long time😂
— Souvik (@souvikbasu1) May 19, 2026
You know what, I wish you interview him on zoom call and we want to see if your number 1 press can get something useful out of this Gandhi. Do share the video on youtube.
— Pinaki Pratihar (@pinakiR) May 20, 2026
ur publicity stunt was very effective. You are a better actor than a journalist,and you deserve an Oscar. However,the account that had been inactive for two years and had no followers suddenly became so active in a single day. This raises doubts about the independence of ur press
— Sunil Saini (@sunil_sain90550) May 20, 2026
What Was The Controversy?
Lyng asked PM Modi at the end of the formal media briefing in Oslo ‘why don’t you take questions from the freest press in the world?’. PM simply walked out and gave no response. The video quickly went viral, sparking a massive buzz on social media. Lyng has been criticized on social media, with some saying she was trying to provoke an answer.
‘Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, would not take my question; I was not expecting him to. Norway has the number one spot on the World Press Freedom Index, India is at 157th,’ she wrote on social media.
She later alleged on Wednesday that her Instagram and Facebook accounts were suspended days after her questions to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Norway, preventing her from replying to users online.
‘If you’re trying to reach me on Instagram or Facebook, I would like to let you know I have been suspended from both accounts. I have wanted to respond to as many Indians as possible, but my responses will now be delayed. I hope I will get my accounts back,’ she wrote on X, tagging Meta.
Also Read: Who Is Helle Lyng? Norway Journalist Under Fire For Asking PM Modi ‘Why Don’t You Take Questions’
