The Editors Guild of India (EGI) has expressed concern over what it described as the government’s growing ‘intolerance towards media questions,’ following recent exchanges between Indian officials and journalists in Norway and the Netherlands during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the two countries.

In a statement issued on 24 May, the Guild referred to ‘embarrassing stand-offs’ between Indian government representatives and members of the European media after the Indian Prime Minister declined to take questions following press briefings during the visit.

“The face-off with the European media was triggered by the Prime Minister's refusal to take questions from local journalists after a press briefing,” the statement said. 

Statement on the Government’s Intolerance Towards Media Questions pic.twitter.com/QltQGFFY69

— Editors Guild of India (@IndEditorsGuild) May 24, 2026

The Guild noted that Norway and the Netherlands currently rank first and second, respectively, on the World Press Freedom Index, while India ranks 157th out of 180 countries.

It acknowledged that 'one may differ about methodology or implicit bias in such rankings', but added that India’s position was 'a matter of grave concern and reflective of an increasingly constrained space for the media to effectively discharge its role in a democracy.'

The statement also observed that journalists questioning political leaders is a routine democratic practice. “They were right about the need for journalists to ask questions in a democracy,” the Guild said, adding: “It is a regrettable fact that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not addressed a single open press conference during his more than a decade in power.”

The Editors Guild further said that the “same intolerance to being questioned is increasingly being manifested at all levels of government, both at the Central and State levels,” and warned that “media restrictions hurt our economy and our society.”

Calling on the government to engage constructively with the press, the Guild said: “The EGi calls on the government to refrain from treating the media as an adversary merely for doing what it is supposed to do — hold those in power accountable.”

The statement was signed by EGI president Sanjay Kapoor, general secretary Raghavan Srinivasan, and treasurer Teresa Rehman.