Overview
- On Monday, May 25, 2026, actor Rupali Ganguly publicly condemned YouTuber Dhruv Rathee’s call for foreign journalists to humiliate Prime Minister Narendra Modi after a viral video questioned the PM’s press engagement.
- Dhruv Rathee had urged reporters to embarrass Modi, saying the prime minister has not held a press conference in 12 years and must be forced to show accountability.
- Ganguly replied on X that millions of Indians love and trust Modi, pointed to his repeated electoral wins and international honors, and said Indians do not need a YouTuber abroad as their spokesperson.
- Coverage notes supporters cite Modi’s recently concluded Italy visit and the elevation of India‑Italy ties to a Special Strategic Partnership as evidence of his global standing; there has been no formal government response to the online dispute.
- The episode highlights how social platforms can amplify political disagreements, fuels debates about leader accountability and press access, and may prolong partisan online clashes rather than produce an immediate change in press practice.