‘Cup of water’: Did Norwegian journalist walk out of heated MEA presser? Helle Lyng, who questioned PM Modi, responds
Norwegian journalist Helle Lyng has denied claims that she walked out of a press conference during Prime Minister Modi's visit to Norway. She clarified that she only stepped away to get a cup of water after a lengthy response from an Indian foreign ministry official regarding human rights issues. The incident sparked a debate on social media about press freedom and the nature of journalism.
- ▪Helle Lyng confronted Indian foreign ministry official Sibi George about human rights violations during a press conference.
- ▪She stated that she did not walk out but needed a cup of water during the lengthy response to her questions.
- ▪The exchange highlighted tensions regarding press freedom, with Lyng emphasizing Norway's high ranking compared to India's low position on the World Press Freedom Index.
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‘Cup of water’: Did Norwegian journalist walk out of heated MEA presser? Helle Lyng, who questioned PM Modi, responds“We had been talking for a while and he did not address human rights violation… I asked multiple times to be more specific,” she said of MEA's Sibi GeorgeUpdated on: May 19, 2026 3:00 PM ISTBy Aarish ChhabraShare viaCopy link Journalist Helle Lyng, at the centre of a row with Indian diplomats during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Norway, has denied that she walked out of a press conference where an Indian foreign ministry official delivered a long reply to her question on alleged human right violations.Helle Lyng replied to a thread on X in which there was a video of her confronting Ministry of External Affairs' Secretary (West) Sibi George with her questions about…
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