BJP MP Tejasvi Surya gave a detailed explanation as to why Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not taken questions at a press conference throughout his tenure so far. In a video shared by Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate and others on X, Suriya can be seen and heard answering a question from a student at a college in Bengaluru.
The student says: “My question to you is: Even though we are the largest democracy, what is your position on our respected Prime Minister not attending any press conference in more than 10 years?”
Syria’s answer
Soria called it “a great question to start with.” After a pause, he added: “Don’t you think – as I said – that speeches are yesterday! In the age of 24/7 social media, where I can speak to my constituents directly, the purpose of a press conference is… where you have a certain barrier between the leader and the people that comes between you. It is redundant.”
The South Bengaluru MP also said, “It is not that the Prime Minister is not communicating. He is communicating every day.”
While sharing the clip, Shrinat mocked Suriya by calling him a “Cerelac baby” — a popular culture reference to a gullible person — and described the exchange as one that Generation Z “confused” him.
Although Suriya did not respond to the video going viral, he did post photos of him attending an event at the college on June 18.
“Over the past few days, I have had the opportunity to interact with students via many of these interactions. What stands out unequivocally is the incredible sense of purpose, ambition and resolve among our youth to contribute meaningfully to the progress of our nation,” he wrote in the caption of his post.
Describe no pressure on PM
Prime Minister Modi has given interviews to journalists but has stayed away from press conferences since taking office in May 2014. A notable exception was a press conference in 2019, during which Modi allowed then-BJP president Amit Shah to answer all questions, ignoring those directed at himself.
The issue was recently raised during Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Oslo, Norway in May 2026. After a joint media statement with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Jahr Sture – which was described as a “press meet” – he did not take any questions. “Prime Minister Modi, why don’t you take some questions from the freest press in the world?” asked Norwegian journalist Helle Ling Svendsen of the daily Dagsavisen. He left the meeting room without responding. Svendsen followed him and asked him: “Are you worthy of our government’s trust?” – He didn’t receive any response either.
Indian officials later said that the event was a pre-arranged joint media statement, rather than an open press conference, and that leaders were not obligated to take questions at such diplomatic briefings.
