Senior Indian diplomat Sibi George has drawn attention after a sharp exchange with a Norwegian journalist during a Ministry of External Affairs briefing linked to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Norway.
George strongly defended India’s democratic system, media landscape and human rights record during the interaction in Oslo, which has since sparked debate online.
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Who is Sibi George?
Sibi George is currently serving as Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs, handling India’s relations with countries in Europe, West Asia and several multilateral forums.
A 1993-batch Indian Foreign Service officer, George has held several key diplomatic postings over the years. He has served as India’s ambassador to Japan, Switzerland, Kuwait, the Holy See, Liechtenstein and the Marshall Islands.
He began his diplomatic career in Cairo and later worked in Doha, Islamabad and Washington DC in political, commercial and consular roles. He also served as deputy chief of mission in Tehran and Riyadh.
Originally from Kerala’s Kottayam district, George is a gold medallist in both graduation and post-graduation. He has received training at institutions, including the American University in Cairo, IIM Ahmedabad and the Indian School of Business. In 2014, he was awarded the MEA’s SK Singh Award for Excellence in the Indian Foreign Service.
Exchange during PM Modi’s Norway visit
The interaction took place during PM Modi’s ongoing diplomatic tour across Europe and the Gulf.
During the briefing in Oslo, a Norwegian journalist questioned India’s press freedom rankings and asked why the world should “trust” India on democracy and human rights issues. The journalist also asked whether PM Modi would begin taking “critical questions” from the media.
#WATCH | Oslo, Norway | MEA Secretary (West) Sibi George responds to question by reporters from Norway - "Why should we trust you?" " Will the PM take critical questions from the Indian Press?" pic.twitter.com/iaEGIlVG08
— ANI (@ANI) May 18, 2026
Responding firmly, George highlighted India’s democratic traditions and constitutional framework.
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“You ask a question, don’t ask me to answer in a particular way,” George said during the exchange after being interrupted.
He also pointed to India’s large media network operating in multiple languages and said citizens have constitutional remedies if their rights are violated.
“We believe in equality; we believe in human rights,” he added while responding to questions on India’s democratic record.
The exchange has since gone viral on social media, drawing reactions from both supporters and critics.
