Norwegian journalist says India barred her despite valid visa

Norwegian journalist Helle Lyng has alleged that Indian authorities prevented her from travelling to Hyderabad for a conference, despite her holding a valid visa. She said the Indian Embassy in Norway informed her shortly before her departure that she would not be allowed to enter the country.

In a social-media post addressed to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Lyng said she had been invited to speak in Hyderabad on media, press freedom and democracy. She said she had received political clearance and had packed for the trip, only to be told about 10 minutes before leaving for the airport that her travel was cancelled.

Lyng claimed that the Ministry of Home Affairs had decided she would not be permitted entry, and described the decision as “politically motivated.” She said she did not understand the reason but believed it could be linked to her public criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

She pointed to opinion pieces she had written for a Norwegian newspaper and posts published online for Indian audiences. Lyng also suggested that her coverage of Indian business groups Adani and Ambani, whom she described as close to Modi, and her interviews with the Communist Party of India (Marxist) may have played a role.

Despite the setback, Lyng said there was still time for her to reach Hyderabad, where she was scheduled to speak within 48 hours. “The ball is now in your court,” she said, asking what the “world’s largest democracy” would do.

Lyng gained attention after she questioned Prime Minister Modi about alleged human-rights violations during his visit to Oslo on May 18 as part of his Europe tour. Modi did not respond to her question at the press conference.

She later said her Instagram account had been suspended following the incident. Lyng has maintained that the travel restriction and the account suspension were connected to her exercise of press freedom and criticism of the Indian government.