Media Outcry as Biden-Modi Meeting in Delhi Leaves Reporters in the Dark

The media's lack of access to U.S. President Joe Biden's meetings in New Delhi, particularly his bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was a topic of discussion during a press briefing aboard Air Force One. U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre addressed the issue, emphasizing that they had been working to secure press access but had to abide by the protocols set by the host country.

Sullivan explained that the meeting took place at the Prime Minister's residence due to the G-20 Summit and not at the Prime Minister's Office. Despite the limited access, Sullivan and Jean-Pierre assured the press that press freedom is important to President Biden, pointing to the previous press conference held by Modi and Biden during Modi's state visit to the U.S. in June.

They also stated that human rights are always raised in discussions with leaders, including Modi. However, the specific explanation for the restricted press access in India was not disclosed by the U.S. officials. They reiterated their commitment to working through the protocols and parameters of the meetings.

The Indian protocol for bilateral talks differs from that of the U.S., where reporters are allowed to be present in the room and ask questions. The Indian tradition is for bilateral talks to take place at Hyderabad House, followed by a limited photo-op without questions.

The tight schedules of multilateral meetings were cited by the Biden administration as a reason for the limited press access. The issue of media access during the Biden-Modi meeting has drawn attention to media freedom in India, where press freedom rankings are low compared to other G-20 countries.

Nevertheless, the efforts of U.S. officials to secure access at the meeting were evident, with various officials reaching out to their Indian counterparts. Ultimately, the U.S. officials assured the press that they were doing their best to ensure access and acknowledged the importance of media coverage of the President's activities abroad.