What is the story about?
Helle Lyng, a Norwegian journalist who questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Norway earlier this year, has alleged that her Indian
visa was cancelled at the last minute, before she was scheduled to attend the Congress-organised Bharat Summit in Hyderabad. Helle Lyng, who was invited as a panellist and speaker to discuss the future of media and press freedom, alleged that the decision was taken on the orders of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). Lyng, who had already secured her Indian visa and completed the required formalities, said she was informed about the cancellation just minutes before leaving for the airport. There has, however, been no official statement from the Indian side so far regarding the allegation.
Norwegian Journalist Claims India Visa Revoked
On November 11, Lyng shared a video message on X, claiming that her planned visit to India had been called off at the last minute.According to the journalist, she was scheduled to leave for Hyderabad on the morning of November 11 to participate in the Bharat Summit on November 13-14. However, before she was due to leave for the airport, she received a call from the Indian Embassy in Norway informing her that she could no longer travel to India.
Lyng alleged that the decision had come following "orders from above" in the Ministry of Home Affairs.
"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 panellist and speaker on the future of media and press freedom. But 'orders from above' in the Ministry of Home Affairs have cancelled my visa," she wrote on X.
The journalist also addressed her message to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, questioning the decision.
She claimed that she had already received the necessary clearances and completed the visa process. However, the reason behind the reported cancellation remains unclear.
Helle Lyng's India Visa Cancelled: Here's What She Has Claimed
While no official reason has been disclosed for the reported visa cancellation, Lyng has raised questions about whether her previous journalistic interventions and public positions could have played a role.In a video message, she questioned whether her earlier criticism of Prime Minister Modi and his government's policies had contributed to the decision. She also wondered whether her opinion pieces concerning industrialists could have been a factor.
Another reason she flagged was her interaction with Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), and her support for the movement's recent protests.
Who Is Helle Lyng?
Helle Lyng is a Norwegian journalist associated with Oslo-based newspaper Dagsavisen. She came into the spotlight in May 2026 following an exchange during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Norway.On May 18, after Modi and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre addressed a joint press gathering in Oslo, Lyng attempted to question the Indian Prime Minister.
"Prime Minister Modi, why don't you take some questions from the freest press in the world?" she asked.
PM Modi left the venue without responding to her question. However, it was not clear whether the Prime Minister had heard her remarks.
Lyng subsequently defended her intervention, maintaining that journalists have a responsibility to question political leaders and hold those in power accountable.
She also questioned MEA Secretary (West) Sibi George during a subsequent media briefing, raising concerns over India's human rights record and the limited opportunities for Indian journalists to question the Prime Minister.
India Simplifies Visa Regime For Foreign Nationals
Meanwhile, the reported incident comes at a time when the central government has undertaken a major rationalisation of India's visa framework to simplify the process for foreign nationals visiting the country.On August 27, the Ministry of Home Affairs reduced the number of major Indian visa categories from 13 to nine and the sub-categories from 49 to 23. The government also reduced the number of fields in visa application forms by 65-70 per cent.
According to the MHA, the changes were aimed at making India's visa regime "more compact, coherent and responsive" to the requirements of foreign nationals.
