00:00Hela Ling was not a globally known journalist before this moment.
00:03Prime Minister Modi, why don't you take some questions from the freest press in the world?
00:08But within hours of questioning Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his Norway visit,
00:12her name was circulating across the Indian political arena,
00:15international media circles and social media timelines.
00:18Hi, my name is Hela. I'm coming from the Norwegian newspaper Daksavisen.
00:23She's not a celebrity anchor or a major television face.
00:26What pushed her into the spotlight was the way she publicly challenged a world leader.
00:30Will the Prime Minister start taking critical questions from the Indian press at some point in the future?
00:37The Indian Embassy in Norway responded to Ling by inviting her to the official MEA briefing,
00:41to which she replied asking if she'll be able to interview the Indian PM.
00:45The exchange later continued at the briefing, where her questions on press freedom,
00:49trust and human rights led to a tense back and forth with MEA Secretary Sibi George.
00:53Let me answer the question. Please don't interrupt me.
00:58She argued that journalists are supposed to ask uncomfortable questions,
01:02and also referenced Norway ranking first on the World Press Freedom Index,
01:06while India ranks much lower.
01:07Soon, the debate exploded far beyond Norway.
01:10Supporters praised her for asking direct questions,
01:13while critics accused her of political bias and trying to embarrass India during a diplomatic visit.
01:18The reactions became so intense that Ling eventually turned off comments on some of her ex-posts.
01:23At one point, Ling even posted online denying allegations that she was acting on behalf of any foreign government.
01:29The controversy grew further, after Rahul Gandhi shared her video and criticised PM Modi,
01:34saying the Prime Minister appeared to be running away from questions.
01:37Ling then publicly reached out to Gandhi on X.
01:40Let me finish my question.
01:42You ask me a question.
01:45No.
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