India Responds To Press Freedom And Rights Concerns Raised In Oslo

India strongly defended its record on democracy, press freedom and human rights during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Oslo, with a senior diplomat dismissing critical international reports as the work of “ignorant NGOs” that fail to understand the scale and diversity of the country.Responding to questions from a Norwegian journalist during a media interaction, Sibi George said India’s democratic framework and constitutional protections should be viewed in the context of the country’s vast population and complex social structure.

He stressed that India, despite accounting for nearly one-sixth of the world’s population, does not face “one-sixth of the problems of the world.”George said the Indian Constitution guarantees fundamental rights to all citizens and provides legal remedies in cases where rights are violated. He highlighted India’s commitment to equality, women’s rights and judicial protections, asserting that citizens have access to courts and legal institutions whenever their rights are infringed upon.

“We are proud to be a democracy,” George said while defending India’s governance structure and institutional framework. He also emphasised that people in several foreign countries often fail to grasp the scale and operational complexity of Indian democracy, governance and media ecosystems.Addressing concerns over press freedom, the diplomat pointed to the country’s expansive and highly active media environment.He noted that hundreds of television channels operate in Delhi alone across English, Hindi and multiple regional languages, generating extensive news coverage and public debate every day.

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According to him, this reflected the vibrancy and openness of India’s media landscape rather than restrictions on expression.The remarks came amid recurring criticism from some international rights organisations and global press freedom watchdogs regarding issues related to media independence, civil liberties and democratic institutions in India. The Indian government has consistently rejected several of these assessments, arguing that they are based on limited understanding and selective interpretation of domestic developments.

Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Norway forms part of India’s broader diplomatic engagement with European countries focused on trade, strategic cooperation, energy security and technology partnerships. The discussions in Oslo also included interactions with business leaders and officials aimed at strengthening bilateral ties between India and Norway.

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