New Delhi: As Narendra Modi concluded his three-nation tour with a two-day visit to New Zealand, an Indian diplomat was asked during a media interaction why the Indian Prime Minister didn’t hold a press conference.
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Secretary (East) Rudrendra Tandon said it was not appropriate for him, as a civil servant, to comment on the Prime Minister’s political style.
Reminded of a similar question, raised during the Prime Minister’s visit to Norway earlier this year, Tandon said, “So you know, your question has that quality of déjà vu, because see, it’s not appropriate for me as a civil servant to question Mr Modi’s political method, he’s a very successful politician.”
He then went on to give his understanding on the issue.
“But let me give you some context,” he said.
Explaining Modi’s style of communication, Tandon described him as a leader who prefers direct engagement with voters rather than communicating through intermediaries.
“Prime Minister Modi is a quintessential Indian politician. By and large, Indian politicians favour direct contact with their electorate. They want direct contact. They don’t like being spoken down to. They don’t like being spoken to through intermediaries,” Tandon said.
“And PM Modi has perfected the art of direct contact with his electorate. And he seems to be doing a rather good job of it since, you know, he’s been elected. He’s in his third term. He’s one of the longest serving prime ministers in our country,” he said.
VIDEO | When asked why PM Modi did not give a press conference to New Zealand journalists during the MEA briefing on PM Modi\’s official visit to New Zealand, MEA Secretary (East) Rudrendra Tandon said, \”It\’s not appropriate for me, as a civil servant, to question PM Modi\’s… pic.twitter.com/mMBLxamLEi
\— Press Trust of India (@PTI\_News) July 11, 2026
The Norway question
A Norwegian journalist had raised a similar question during Modi’s visit to Oslo in May.
During a joint media interaction with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, journalist Helle Lyng called out to Modi as he was leaving the venue and asked why he does not take questions from journalists.
The Indian Prime Minister did not respond to the question, and the issue generated discussion in sections of the media and on social media.
MEA Secretary (West) Sibi George had defended India’s democratic institutions and media environment.
“We hear a lot of people asking why this, why that, but let me tell you this. We are one-sixth of the total population of the world, but not one-sixth of the problems of the world,” George had said.
