Another foreign Journalist leaves India over ‘reporting restrictions’
Avani Dias, South Asia Bureau Chief for Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), left India alleging that Modi government was upset because of her reporting and restricted her from covering the 2024 Parliamentary Elections.
New Delhi: Avani Dias, South Asia Bureau Chief for Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), left India alleging that Modi government was upset because of her reporting and restricted her from covering the 2024 Parliamentary Elections.
Taking to social media platform X, Avani Dias, said the Indian government first refused to extend her visa. Her visa was extended after intervention by the Australian government but with a caveat - .she will not be allowed to cover the 2024 Parliament Elections.
“Last week, I had to leave India abruptly. The Modi Government told me my visa extension would be denied, saying my reporting ‘crossed a line’. After Australian Government intervention, I got a mere two-month extension ...less than 24 hours before my flight (sic)”, she wrote on X.
“We were also told my election accreditation would not come through because of an Indian Ministry directive. We left on day one of voting in the national election in what Modi calls ‘the mother of democracy’”, she added.
Avani Dias left India more than two months after Vanessa Dougnac, a French Journalist, similarly left India. Vanessa, who has been living in India for 25 years now, has studied, married an Indian and has a son.
Vanessa Dougnac left India amid expulsion threat and fearing her Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) status will be cancelled.
Foreign Media Protest
As many as 30 foreign correspondents in India have protested against the “treatment” of journalists in India.
“We would like to register our strong protest at the treatment by Indian authorities of our colleague, Avani Dias”, they said in an open letter.
“Foreign journalists in India have grappled with increased restrictions on visa and journalism permits for those holding the status of Overseas Citizen of India. The circumstances of Avani’s departure are further cause for concerns”, they said.
“We call on the Indian government to facilitate the vital work of a free press in line with India’s democratic traditions”, they said.
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