How newspapers reported on the PM’s press conference that wasn’t

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “press appearance“ generated quite a bit of buzz yesterday with TV channels cutting live to the Bharatiya Janata Party headquarters. Journalists on social media and those present at the press conference expected the PM to take questions—the first time ever since he got elected in 2014. However, it was clear within minutes that Modi would direct all questions to BJP President Amit Shah. While some TV channels continued to dub the event as the PM’s first press conference in their primetime offering, Zee News called it a historic moment and anchor Sudhir Chaudhary elaborated on why it was such a masterstroke.

Today morning, newspapers presented a more realistic picture. The Times of India while reporting on the press conference noted, “PM directs questions to party prez Shah”.

The Indian Express also stated that Modi was “present” at Shah’s press conference but did not take any questions.

The Hindustan Times reported on Modi and Congress President Rahul Gandhi’s press conference as a single item on the front-page and stated that Modi appeared in his “first press conference” but did not take any questions.

The Telegraph, not known for its subtlety when it comes to the BJP government, had an elaborate display on its front-page to drive home the point that Modi is yet to take questions from journalists at a press conference since he took oath as the PM.

A report below this listed out the questions Gandhi took during his press conference.

Mumbai Mirror dubbed the whole affair a “Sup-Press Conference”. The report began thus: “At the first ever ‘press conference’ in his five-year tenure as the Prime Minister, held on the last day of campaigning for the Lok Sabha, Narendra Modi stuck to his guns by refusing to take questions from reporters.” Next to this report, the paper remarked that Gandhi “addressed” a real press conference.

Hindi daily Dainik Jagran also reported on Modi and Gandhi’s presser on the front page. Jagaran in its blurb said: “Amit Shah ki press conference main achanak pahunche PM, nahin diye sawaalon ke jawaab.” (The PM suddenly landed at Amit Shah’s press conference, did not give answers to questions).

Navbharat Times noted: “Paanch saal main PM ki pehli press conference, lekin sawaalon pe saadhe rakhi chuppi.” (PM gives his first press conference in five years, but remained silent on questions.)

Clearly, newspapers, both Hindi and English, did a more true-to-picture job of covering the PM’s press conference that wasn’t.