Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is facing criticism over his foreign visits, with reports claiming he has repeatedly avoided taking questions from independent media during official trips.
According to Al Jazeera, a New Zealand journalist questioned Modi for not holding a press conference during his official visit. The report said this was the third time in less than two months that Modi avoided answering questions from foreign media.
Al Jazeera also reported that Modi did not take questions from Australian journalists during his visit to Australia. Earlier, during a visit to Norway, a direct question from journalist Hailey Ling also drew international attention.
The report noted that India ranked 157th out of 180 countries in the 2026 World Press Freedom Index.
Indian journalist Sangeeta Barooah Pisharoty said the country’s media system has faced growing criticism over the past 11 years.
Opposition leaders in India said Modi’s refusal to answer questions from both international and local media reflects a lack of accountability.
Journalist Ghazala Wahab also said that media freedom and minority rights in India continue to face serious challenges.
