The controversial Norwegian “journalist”, Helle Lyng, who shot to fame after heckling PM Modi during his visit to Oslo earlier this year, has expressed her wish to see Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi become the Prime Minister of India. Speaking to HW English in a recent interview over the cancellation of her Indian visa, Lyng said that she was hopeful that she would be able to visit the country to cover the “inauguration” of Rahul Gandhi after he becomes Prime Minister after the 2029 general elections.
“I am hopeful to be able to sign up to cover a potential inauguration of Mr Rahul Gandhi. Um, and then I will be doing commentary on that, you know,” Lyng told the interviewer. Explaining her support for the Congress leader, Lyng said that she will always support people who are for press freedom, suggesting that Gandhi fulfils the condition. After clearly supporting Gandhi, the so-called journalist went on to clarify that she does not endorse anyone.
Replying to the interviewer who asked if she thinks that she will not be allowed entry into India as long as PM Modi is in power, Lyng replied positively. She
During the interview, Lyng claimed that the Indian embassy cancelled her visa at the last minute on November 11, 2026, when she was about to take off to attend the Congress Party’s Bharat Summit in Hyderabad. Lyng was invited as a panellist at the summit. She also posted a video addressing the Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, alleging that her visa was cancelled on his orders.
I got a visa to India and was supposed to leave this morning to attend the Bharat Summit in Hyderabad. I had been invited as a panelist and speaker on the future of media and press freedom. But «orders from above» in the Ministry of Home Affairs have cancelled my visa. Here is my message for @AmitShah
— Helle Lyng (@HelleLyngSvends) November 11, 2026
Rahul Gandhi peddled Lyng’s anti-Modi narrative
Interestingly, Rahul Gandhi had shared the video of Lyng heckling Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Oslo. Gandhi used the video to attack PM Modi and commented, “When there is nothing to hide, there is nothing to fear. What happens to India’s image when the world sees a compromised PM panic and run from a few questions?”
Replying to Gandhi’s comment, Lyng sought time from him for a telephonic interview. Apparently, Lyng’s dislike for PM Modi and his government was rewarded with an invitation to attend the Congress Party’s Bharat Summit as a speaker. Lyng admittedly has authored several opinion pieces criticising the Modi government. She has supported the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) that led the opposition-backed regime change operation against the Modi government.
