Don't Be Her Tool, Rahul

A Norwegian journalist's outreach to Rahul Gandhi raises questions about intent, ethics, and diplomatic responsibility.

When Helle Lyng, a Norwegian journalist, reached out to Rahul Gandhi seeking a phone interview amid the controversy surrounding PM Modi's visit to Norway, it sparked more than just a news cycle. It raised a fundamental question: what truly drives such journalism — the pursuit of truth, or the pursuit of relevance?

Let us be honest. Before this episode, very few outside Norwegian media circles would have recognised the name Helle Lyng. That is not a personal attack — it is simply context. Because what followed was a textbook case of a journalist leveraging proximity to a powerful name to amplify their own profile. The formula is old and well-worn: attach yourself to controversy, attach controversy to a great person, and watch your visibility soar.

The real casualty here, however, is not any individual. It is the Indo-Norwegian diplomatic relationship — a channel built patiently over decades of mutual respect and cooperation. A press conference is a space for information, not confrontation. When it is turned into a debating arena, it does not weaken the leader being targeted. It weakens the institution of journalism itself, and damages the country the journalist represents far more than the one she intended to embarrass.

India's Prime Minister carries with him the aspirations of over a billion people — including the most marginalised. His every step on the world stage is watched by millions who see in him their own voice. Attempting to reduce that to a sound bite is not journalism. It is theatre.

And to Rahul Gandhi — a word of caution. Engaging with such outreach, however tempting politically, risks making you an instrument in someone else's narrative. You are not obligated to hand a foreign journalist the controversy she is fishing for. Guard your voice. Use it on your own terms, not as a tool in another person's story.

Criticism of leaders is healthy. Democracy demands it. But there is a clear line between holding power accountable and exploiting diplomatic settings for personal gain. That line was crossed.