India strongly responds to Norwegian journalist’s remarks on human rights, press freedom

India on Monday strongly responded to questions raised by a Norwegian journalist regarding press freedom and human rights during Narendra Modi’s visit to Oslo.

Addressing the media during the visit, Sibi George of the Ministry of External Affairs defended India’s democratic system, constitutional framework and human rights record while dismissing criticism based on reports published by certain NGOs.

George said that India represented one-sixth of the world’s population but did not account for one-sixth of the world’s problems. He emphasised that the country’s Constitution guarantees fundamental rights and argued that many people fail to understand the scale and diversity of India, Free Press Journal reported.

He also pointed to the large number of television channels and news stories broadcast daily in multiple Indian languages as evidence of media plurality in the country. George criticised what he described as selective reliance on reports by “ignorant NGOs” when questioning India’s democratic record.

Highlighting constitutional guarantees, he stated that India believes in equality and human rights and that citizens whose rights are violated have access to courts for legal remedy. He further noted that India had ensured equal voting rights for women since Independence and said the country took pride in being a democracy.

Earlier, the same journalist had reportedly criticised Modi after the prime minister did not take questions during a media briefing.