‘Why doesn’t PM Modi hold press conferences?’ Foreign Ministry’s big revelation on the sharp question of New Zealand journalist

The atmosphere heated up at a media briefing during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to New Zealand when a journalist there asked a direct and piercing question to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). The journalist wanted to know why PM Modi does not hold press conferences or talk openly to journalists during his travels? This question made the officials present there a little uncomfortable, but Foreign Ministry Secretary (East) Rudrendra Tandon surprised everyone by answering it in a very measured manner.

Secretary felt ‘deja vu’

Rudrendra Tandon first smiled after hearing the question and said that he felt ‘Déjà vu’ from this question. ‘Déjà vu’ is a French word which means ‘it has felt like this before’. He reminded that a similar question was also asked during the Prime Minister’s visit to Norway earlier this year. Tandon said that as a civil servant, it is not appropriate for him to comment on the political methods of PM Modi, but he can definitely give some necessary context on this issue.

‘Don’t like to talk through middlemen’

Taking his point forward, Secretary Rudrendra made a big revelation on the working style of PM Modi. He said that Prime Minister Modi is a ‘special’ Indian politician who believes that Indian voters do not like to negotiate through ‘middlemen’. “You have to remember that Indian voters, especially those in rural areas, want direct contact with politicians. They don’t like someone from a higher position speaking to them or through a middleman,” he said.

Direct contact is the key to success

Rudrendra Tandon further said that PM Modi has mastered the art of direct communication with his voters. He stressed that this is why he is in his third consecutive term and has become one of the longest serving Prime Ministers in the history of India. According to him, PM Modi’s direct connection with the voters is his biggest political strength and he thinks it is better to connect with the people of the country in this way.

It is noteworthy that PM Modi is the first Indian Prime Minister to visit New Zealand in the last 40 years. He has reached New Zealand in the last leg of his important tour of three countries (Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand), where his visit is being seen as a new beginning in the relations between India and New Zealand.