Tejasvi Surya Defends PM Modi’s Absence From Press Conferences, Calls Them ‘Redundant’
The BJP MP said direct communication through social media and digital platforms has reduced the need for traditional press conferences.
Bengaluru: BJP MP Tejasvi Surya has defended Prime Minister Narendra Modi over criticism regarding his absence from formal press conferences during his tenure in office, arguing that modern communication tools have made traditional media interactions less necessary.
Speaking during an interaction with students at a college in Bengaluru, Surya was asked about the Prime Minister not attending a press conference for more than a decade despite leading the world’s largest democracy.
Responding to the question, Surya said that the rise of social media and direct digital communication has changed the way political leaders engage with the public. According to him, traditional press conferences create an intermediary between leaders and citizens, whereas digital platforms allow direct communication.
He said the Prime Minister regularly communicates with the public and suggested that the purpose once served by press conferences has diminished in the current media landscape.
A video of the exchange later circulated widely on social media, drawing attention and sparking debate online.
While Surya did not directly address the viral clip, he later shared photographs from the June 18 student interaction and praised the enthusiasm and aspirations of young people. He said his recent engagements with students reflected a strong desire among the youth to contribute to India’s development.
The discussion has once again brought attention to the fact that Prime Minister Modi has not participated in a formal question and answer press conference since taking office in May 2014, though he has given interviews to journalists and media organisations on several occasions.
The issue recently resurfaced during Modi’s visit to Oslo in May 2026. Following a joint media statement with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, journalists were not invited to ask questions. During the event, Norwegian journalist Helle Lyng Svendsen publicly asked why Modi would not take questions from what she described as one of the world’s freest presses, but did not receive a response.
Indian officials later clarified that the event was a scheduled joint media statement rather than an open press conference and noted that leaders are not required to answer questions during such diplomatic engagements.