Oslo: Norwegian journalist Helle Lyng has alleged that Indian authorities prevented her from travelling to India despite holding a valid visa to attend the Congress-organised ‘India Summit’ in Hyderabad.
In a post on X, Lyng said she was informed by the Indian Embassy in Norway about the cancellation just 10 minutes before she was due to leave for the airport. She had been invited as a speaker and panelist to discuss the future of media and press freedom.
Lyng alleged that her visa was cancelled on the orders of the Union Home Ministry and questioned Home Minister Amit Shah over the decision.
I got a visa to India and was supposed to leave this morning to attend the Bharat Summit in Hyderabad. I had been invited as a panelist and speaker on the future of media and press freedom.
But «orders from above» in the Ministry of Home Affairs have cancelled my visa.
Here is my message for @AmitShah
— Helle Lyng (@HelleLyngSvends) November 11, 2026
In a video message, she said she was excited about visiting India for the first time and had already packed her bags. However, she received a call from the Indian Embassy shortly before leaving for the airport, informing her that she could not travel to India.
She also suggested that the action could be linked to her questioning Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Norway earlier this year.
Lyng made headlines in May when she called out Modi in Oslo as he was leaving after a joint press conference with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. She questioned why the Prime Minister did not answer journalists’ questions.
Primeminister of India, Narendra Modi, would not take my question, I was not expecting him to.
Norway has the number one spot on the World Press Freedom Index, India is at 157th, competing with Palestine, Emirates & Cuba.
It is our job to question the powers we cooperate with.
— Helle Lyng (@HelleLyngSvends) May 18, 2026
Her latest allegations have triggered reactions on social media, with several users expressing support for the journalist and raising concerns over press freedom.