Helle Lyng Svendsen alleged her visa was cancelled by orders from the Ministry of Home Affairs just before her flight.
Norwegian commentator Helle Lyng Svendsen claimed on Wednesday that her Indian visa was cancelled by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) just 10 minutes before she was due to leave for the airport. According to reports by The Times of India, the journalist was scheduled to travel to Hyderabad to speak at a panel on 'The Future of Media' during the Bharat Summit on November 14.
Svendsen, who works with the Oslo-based newspaper Dagsavisen, said the Indian embassy in Oslo informed her she would not be allowed to enter India but did not provide a reason. She stated in a post on X that the cancellation came on "orders from above" in the MHA. She noted that she had already received political clearance and her visa was ready for collection as of November 10.
The journalist suggested the decision might be linked to her previous interactions with Indian officials. During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Oslo on May 18, Svendsen had asked the Prime Minister why he was not taking questions from journalists. She also reportedly questioned MEA Secretary (West) Sibi George regarding India's human rights record during that visit.
The Indian National Congress reacted to the incident on X, asking, "Why are Modi and his govt so afraid of questions?" The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has not immediately responded to the claims. Svendsen said she has not yet approached Norwegian authorities and is evaluating her next steps.
