Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said Prime Minister Narendra Modi avoids regular press conferences because he prefers direct engagement with the public.
The statements highlight a tension between the Indian government's communication strategy and traditional journalistic access during a period of social unrest.
Speaking during an episode of UnPolitics, Rijiju said press conferences are merely a formality [1]. He said the Prime Minister's preference for direct interaction is more effective than the structured nature of media briefings [1].
Beyond communication styles, Rijiju addressed the government's response to recent student protests. He said the current crackdown is reminiscent of the circumstances that led to Indira Gandhi’s Emergency [2]. By drawing this historical parallel, the minister said the state's actions were necessary for stability [2].
The Congress party rejected this comparison. A spokesperson for the party said comparing any democratic action to the Emergency is a distortion of history [2].
During the interview, Rijiju also discussed a wide range of socio-political issues. These included the Manusmriti, the role of patriarchy, and the specifics of delimitation and women's reservation [3]. He also discussed Gen-Z protests and shared lighter anecdotes, including a viral river plunge and an interaction with Arunachal’s Tinkle [3].
The interview took place in New Delhi, where Rijiju defended the government's stance on Hinduism and various administrative reforms [2].
“"Press conferences are merely a formality; Prime Minister Narendra Modi prefers direct engagement with people."”
Rijiju's comments reflect a broader shift in the Modi administration's approach to media, prioritizing curated digital outreach over adversarial questioning. By linking modern protest management to the Emergency era, the government is attempting to frame its security measures as a historical necessity for national order, while the opposition views such framing as an attempt to rewrite democratic norms.
