New Delhi: The Congress party on Sunday criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of avoiding genuine media interactions and lacking the courage to face unscripted press conferences.
In a strongly worded post on social media platform X, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh alleged that Modi’s engagements with the media are carefully choreographed and controlled.
Ramesh contrasted Modi’s media approach with global democratic norms, stating that leaders around the world routinely participate in open, freewheeling press conferences — something Modi has not done in over a decade since assuming office in 2014.
"Last year, during the election campaign, Modi’s media appearances were entirely stage-managed — produced, directed, and scripted,” Ramesh wrote. “He even went so far as to make the bizarre claim of being 'non-biological'. Yet, he has never had the courage to face the press without a script.”
The Congress leader emphasized that previous Indian prime ministers regularly held unscripted media briefings, where they were subjected to intense questioning and responded directly — a practice that, he said, strengthened India’s democratic roots. He pointed out that Modi’s predecessor frequently engaged with the media in spontaneous press meets, a stark contrast to the current prime minister’s media strategy.
The Congress party has long criticized Modi for his limited interaction with the press, arguing that his reluctance to face independent media scrutiny undermines democratic accountability.
