Congress Accuses MEA Official of Anti-Democratic Stance
The Congress party on Saturday sharply criticised senior Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) official Rudrendra Tandon for defending Prime Minister Narendra Modi's communication style after a New Zealand journalist questioned the Prime Minister's absence from press conferences. Congress media and publicity department chairman Pawan Khera described Tandon's argument as "flimsy" and "unmistakably anti-democratic."
Background of the Controversy
The issue arose during Prime Minister Modi's visit to New Zealand, the final leg of his three-nation tour. A New Zealand journalist asked why Modi does not hold press conferences. Tandon, responding as a civil servant, stated that it was not his place to comment on the Prime Minister's political approach and that such decisions rest with the Prime Minister and his political leadership.
Congress Leader's Response
Pawan Khera acknowledged that bureaucrats serve the government of the day, making it unsurprising that Tandon refrained from criticising the regime he represents abroad. However, Khera asserted that Tandon's justification was "not democratically defensible." He noted that international media continues to highlight Modi's lack of press conferences, citing recent examples from New Zealand and Norway.
Allegations of Undermining Media
Khera further alleged that Tandon's remarks reduce the media—"the fourth pillar of democracy"—to a matter of government convenience. "In reality, however, public outreach is no replacement for media accountability," Khera said. He argued that such reasoning could be extended to justify bypassing other institutions, drawing a controversial parallel: it would be akin to claiming that courts could be replaced with "encounters, lynchings or riots" in the name of "real-time justice."
Official's Defense
During the interaction, Tandon maintained that as a civil servant, he could not comment on political choices. He reiterated that it is up to the Prime Minister and his political team to decide how to communicate with the public.
