Vanessa Dougnac, Sébastien Farcis and Avani Dias are not famous personalities. French journalist Dougnac, who had been the longest serving foreign correspondent in India, announced her departure from the South Asian country on February 16, 2024 after the Government of India issued a two-week revocation of her Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card in January, for her reporting on Kashmir and the alleged mishandling of the COVID-19 emergency. Just before French President Emmanuel Jean-Michel Frédéric Macron‘s visit to New Delhi earlier this year, the Narendra Modi Administration reportedly asked Dougnac to explain why her OCI status should be revoked. Ahead of the Indian Parliamentary Elections, the journalist learned from a source that her work permit had exceeded its limits and hence, her visa would not be extended. However, the Government of India renewed her visa at the last moment. However, in case of Farcis, India gave no explanation for non-renewal of his visa!

Dias is a Sri Lankan-Australian journalist and radio presenter who served as the International Foreign Correspondent (for South Asia) of Australian Broadcasting Corporation, based in New Delhi until April 2024. Her 2024 report for Foreign Correspondent, entitled ‘Sikhs, Spies and Murder‘, investigated the alleged assassination of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar by India in Canada. India went on to get the report on YouTube and blocked it, stating that it would refuse to extend Dias’ visa to stay in the country! After a request from the Australian Government, her visa was extended for two months. However, she decided to return to Australia. Dias claimed that the pressure piled upon her by the Modi Government made it difficult to work in India.

In fact, there is no reason to be surprised by such an action on the part of the Government of India. Prime Minister Modi and his Home Minister Amit Shah hardly accept criticism (of the Government) by journalists. Since becoming Prime Minister in 2014, Modi has never held a press conference as he does not like questions! Instead, the Modi Administration treats media persons, who criticise the Government, as traitors, anti-nationals or criminals. The Government also creates trouble for journalists by harassing them, by posing threats or by detaining them under the National Security Act and the infamous UAPA Act! All these have been part of the daily lives of Indian journalists for the past 10 years. Now, foreign journalists have started facing similar problems in a slightly different manner.

The Government of India has already imposed a number of restrictions on foreign journalists working in the country. They have to seek permission from the concerned authorities in New Delhi before publishing news articles on Jammu and Kashmir, and Northeast India. It is quite easy for the Indian authorities to deter foreign journalists on the pretext of national security. Furthermore, there is no need for the Government to explain or to apologise for the denial of visa (renewal) or work permits.

It may be noted that India is ranked 159 out of the 180 nations considered in the 2024 edition of the Press Freedom Index, published by the Reporters Without Borders. Journalists working in the Israeli-occupied territory of Palestine are said to be on par with their counterparts performing their duties in India. With foreign journalists leaving India, the Government should understand the fact that it is not only violating the journalists’ Right to Work Independently, but also affecting India’s (diplomatic) relations with other countries.

Incidents related to Dougnac, Farcis and Dias have triggered an awkward situation for the Indian Ministry of External Affairs. Prime Minister Modi and his Government would not have much to state if there is a backlash against the Indians, especially the Indian journalists, working in France or Australia or any other country…

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Published by Koushik Das

Koushik Das (born on May 16, 1976 in Kolkata) is a career journalist. Based in the Indian capital of New Delhi, Koushik writes mainly about foreign policies and current geopolitical issues, and rarely about other topics. His own political ideas are highly influenced by Antonio Gramsci, Louis Althusser, Michel Foucault, Michael Oakeshott and others. English philosopher and political theorist Oakeshott (Dec 11, 1901-Dec 19, 1990) says that “in political activity, men sail a boundless and bottomless sea. There is neither harbour for shelter nor floor for anchorage, neither starting-place, nor appointed destination. But we have to keep afloat”. (Rationalism in Politics, 1962) As a student of Political Science, Koushik loves to share his views on issues, which have great impacts on his thought process (and also on India, South Asia and of course on the global community), with his readers through his website – Boundless Ocean of Politics. By doing so, he tries to keep himself afloat. You will find some of his articles in https://inserbia.info/today/ (https://inserbia.info/today/author/kou_das13_i/), as he has been trying to assess the global geopolitics since 2003. You can also mail him at kousdas@gmail.com View all posts by Koushik Das