Kementerian Luar Negeri India memberikan tanggapan keras terhadap pertanyaan jurnalis Norwegia mengenai kebebasan pers dan hak asasi manusia di India saat kunjungan Perdana Menteri Narendra Modi di Oslo, Senin (18/5/2026).
Pernyataan tersebut disampaikan oleh Sibi George selaku Sekretaris Barat di Kementerian Luar Negeri India untuk membela nilai demokrasi dan kerangka hukum negara tersebut.
Sibi George menegaskan bahwa sistem hukum di India memberikan perlindungan menyeluruh bagi seluruh warga negara terkait hak-hak fundamental mereka.
"We are one-sixth of the total population of the world, but not one-sixth of the problems of the world. We have a constitution which guarantees the fundamental rights of the people," kata Sibi George, Sekretaris Barat di Kementerian Luar Negeri India.
Tanggapan tersebut muncul setelah jurnalis Norwegia bernama Helle Lyng mempertanyakan alasan mengapa India harus dipercaya terkait rekam jejak hak asasi manusianya.
"We have equal rights for the women of our country, which is very important...We believe in equality; we believe in human rights...If anyone whose rights are violated, they have the right to go to court...We are proud to be a democracy," ujar Sibi George.
Diplomat tersebut kemudian menyoroti skala dan keberagaman ekosistem media di India yang sangat aktif dengan beroperasi dalam berbagai bahasa daerah.
"You know how many stories are up here. We have how many breaking news coming every day in the evening. At least 200 TV channels in Delhi alone, in the English language, in the Hindi language and in multiple languages," tutur Sibi George.
Menurutnya, pihak asing sering kali tidak memahami skala besar yang dimiliki India dan hanya bersandar pada laporan sepihak.
"They read, you know, one or two news reports published by some godforsaken, ignorant NGOs and then come and ask questions," ucap Sibi George.
Ia juga menekankan bahwa India merupakan negara yang selalu patuh pada hukum internasional dan regulasi yang berlaku secara global.
"India is a country which believes in the rule of law. We have always been following rules wherever they are. We play by the book. That is India's reputation," tambah Sibi George.
Penegasan dari Kementerian Luar Negeri India ini terjadi satu hari setelah New Delhi menolak komentar Perdana Menteri Belanda Rob Jetten mengenai penurunan kebebasan media dan hak minoritas di India.
