Norwegian journalist claims MHA cancelled her visa for Hyderabad event
Norwegian journalist Helle Lyng Svendsen alleges that the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs cancelled her visa shortly before she was scheduled to speak at a summit in Hyderabad. The journalist, known for questioning Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the past, claims no official reason was provided for the last-minute travel restriction.
Why it matters
The incident highlights ongoing tensions regarding press freedom and government control over international media access in India.
HYDERABAD: Norwegian journalist Helle Lyng Svendsen, who was invited to speak at the Bharat Summit in Hyderabad, has alleged that her Indian visa was cancelled at the last minute, preventing her from travelling to India despite having secured a visa and political clearance.In a video posted on X on Wednesday, Svendsen said she received a call from the Indian Embassy in Oslo around 10 minutes before she was due to leave for the airport. She alleged that she was told she could not travel following directions from the Union ministry of home affairs (MHA).“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.
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India Defends Visa Denials for Speakers Attending Bharat Summit
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