PM's Newsweek Interview: Journalist Fires Back At Trolls, Calls Modi 'A Solid Leader'

pm’s newsweek interview: journalist fires back at trolls, calls modi ‘a solid leader’

New Delhi: In response to criticism and trolling, a Newsweek journalist took to social media to address the backlash surrounding their recent interview with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Danish Manzoor Bhat, Editorial Director, Asia & Sr. VP Editorial & News Innovation at Newsweek defended his work and challenged critics to engage with both the interview and its companion piece before launching critiques.

“To my dear friends reveling in their trolling endeavors: Yes, I secured the interview with the Indian Prime Minister, if you try, perhaps you will too,” he wrote on X.

“When indulging in my work, ensure you peruse both the interview and its companion piece—they are a package deal,” Bhat wrote.

The journalist emphasised the importance of telling the story of India without patronizing bias or preconceived notions about developing nations. He stressed that countries are more than just their politicians and politics, advocating for a broader understanding of nations like India beyond stereotypes.

“The story of India deserves to be told without being patronising without the inherent bias that nothing could ever happen in developing nations. This needs to change. Countries are beyond their politicians and their politics,” Bhat said.

Expressing personal observations from the interview, the journalist also praised the Prime Minister as a “solid leader” who acknowledges his shortcomings and strives to ensure the progress and prosperity of the country.

“I say it again. On a personal level, I found the Indian prime minister to be solid leader who knows what he is doing, and also knows his shortcomings and is willing to work on those to ensure that the country he leads, progresses grows, and stays prosperous,” he shot back at trolls.

Furthermore, the journalist addressed potential backlash from future interviews with other Asian leaders, pledging to bring out diverse perspectives and promising to represent the voices of the global south, even if it means being perceived as the Devil’s advocate.

Notably, Narendra Modi became the first Prime Minister of India to feature on Newsweek’s cover after Indira Gandhi. The New York-based magazine interviewed PM Modi in late March, primarily focusing on topics such as the India-China border situation, Ram Mandir, and Article 370. The interview process began with written questions, which were then followed by a 90-minute conversation between PM Modi and the Newsweek team.