A Norwegian journalist who publicly challenged Narendra Modi over press freedom in India has claimed her Instagram and Facebook accounts were suspended days after the exchange sparked controversy. Helle Lyng, a reporter for the newspaper Dagsavisen, said on Wednesday she had been locked out of both Meta-owned platforms following a wave of attention surrounding her questioning of the Indian prime minister and senior diplomats.
“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,” she wrote on X, tagging Meta. The company has not publicly commented on the suspensions or provided a reason for the accounts being disabled.
The dispute began during a joint appearance in Oslo by Mr Modi and Norwegian prime minister Jonas Gahr Støre. The two leaders announced they would not take questions from journalists. As they walked away, Ms Lyng called out: “Prime minister Modi, why don’t you take some questions from the freest press in the world?” Mr Modi did not respond and continued leaving the room.
The moment spread online, fuelling debate in India over press freedom. Mr Modi has not held a traditional press conference since taking office in 2014. Ms Lyng later defended her approach, telling BBC Hindi: “That’s how confrontational journalism works.” She also highlighted the contrast between Norway and India in the World Press Freedom Index, where Norway ranks first and India 157th.
The confrontation escalated during a press briefing hosted by Indian diplomats in Oslo. Ms Lyng pressed India’s foreign ministry on press freedom and human rights, asking: “Why should we trust you?” Senior Indian diplomat Sibi George rejected the criticism, defending India’s democratic institutions and saying: “People have no understanding of the scale of India.”
Opposition politician Rahul Gandhi criticised Mr Modi after footage circulated online, calling him a “compromised PM”. Ms Lyng is still trying to determine why her accounts were disabled, asking for advice on securing them if restored.
