Indian Diplomat Sibi George’s Powerful Reply to Norwegian Reporter Goes Viral
Indian Foreign Secretary Sibi George has gone viral for his forceful response to a Norwegian journalist who questioned India’s media freedom and human rights record during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Norway.
Journalist Helle Ling had criticized PM Modi for not answering her questions during a press conference, taking to X (formerly Twitter) to highlight India’s position in the World Press Freedom Index. In response, the Ministry of External Affairs called a press conference where Foreign Secretary (West) Sibi George delivered a detailed rebuttal.
“The world’s one-sixth population lives in India, but one-sixth of the world’s problems are not here,” George said, addressing the journalist’s questions about why India should be trusted and whether the Prime Minister would face tough questions from Indian media.
He emphasized India’s constitutional framework that guarantees fundamental rights to all citizens. “We have a constitution that guarantees the fundamental rights of the people. Women in our country have equal rights, which is a very important thing,” he stated.
George pointed to the vibrant media landscape in India, noting that Delhi alone has at least 200 TV channels in English, Hindi, and other languages. He criticized the tendency to base questions on one or two reports from ill-informed NGOs.
“People have no idea about the scale of India. They know nothing. They read one or two news reports published by some ill-informed NGOs and come asking questions,” he remarked.
The diplomat highlighted that India granted women the right to vote from the very first day of independence in 1947, unlike many countries that took decades to do so. “We believe in equality; we believe in human rights. If anyone’s rights are violated, they have the right to approach the court. As a democracy, we take pride in that,” George concluded.
Sibi George is a senior Indian diplomat from Podimattam family in Pala, Kottayam district, Kerala. He currently serves as Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs and has previously served as Indian Ambassador to Japan, Switzerland, and Kuwait.