'Why should we trust India?': MEA slams 'ignorant NGO reports' at Oslo presser on questions over human rights

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Norway for the 3rd India-Nordic Summit took a dramatic turn on Monday as the PM was seen walking out of the room when a Norwegian journalist urged him to take some questions from the media.

The journalist, Helle Lyng, was later invited by the Embassy of India in Oslo to attend the briefing by the officials of the Ministry of External Affairs on the visit of the prime minister to Norway.

At the briefing, however, more dramatic scenes unfolded as Lyng asked why "India should be trusted"?

"As we strengthen our partnership, why should we trust you? Can you promise that you will try to stop the human rights violations that go on in your country? And also will the prime minister start taking critical questions from the Indian press at some point in the future? And also if possible I would like you to answer straightaway," Lyng asked.

What followed was a lengthy response by MEA Secretary (West) Sibi George highlighting India's role in providing help during the COVID-19 pandemic, the fundamental rights guaranteed to its citizens by the Indian Constitution and India's civilization history.

"You look around and you see an India connect everywhere in the world. India has the numbers you see on your phones--it originated in India. Shoonya, zero, originated in India. Chess originated in India. So we are proud of that civilisation. Yoga, which the world admires today, originated in India. India had epics and books," he said.

On the question of human rights violations in India, George blamed it on the "ignorant NGOs" whose reports lead to "misunderstandings" about India.

"You know how many stories are up here. We have how many breaking news coming every day in the evening. At least 200 TV channels in Delhi alone, in English language, in Hindi language and multiple languages. People have no understanding of the scale of India. People have no understanding. They read, you know, one or two news reports published by some godforsaken, ignorant NGOs and then come and ask questions," he said.

"We have a constitution which guarantees the rights of the people, fundamental rights of the people. We have, you know, we have equal rights for the women of our country, which is very important. In 1947, we gave the freedom to vote for our women. We together, we won the freedom together and they won itself. Many countries I know, the voting right for women came after several decades after India gave that freedom. You know, this, because we believe in equality, we believe in human rights. And what is the best example of human rights? The right to change government, the right to vote. And that is what is happening in India. We are so proud of that," he added.