New Delhi: France raised the issue of the likely expulsion of a French journalist by India during talks as part of the ongoing visit of French President Emmanuel Macron, with New Delhi insisting that it is about violation of rules and not the nature of her journalism.
Meanwhile, a group of 30 foreign correspondents based in India have expressed concern and hope that India resolves the case so that it doesn’t impact her profession or her family life.
Citing a “violation” of visa rules in connection with her reporting, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had issued a two-week notice to a French journalist Vanessa Dougnac for revocation of her Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card. She had been asked to respond by February 2. If the notice was implemented, it would mean that Dougnac would have to leave the country.
Dougnac, who is married to an Indian and has been living here for 22 years, is a correspondent for the Le Croix and Le Point media outlets.
In a statement, Dougnac had denied all the allegations and said that she was cooperating with the legal process.
The French President is on the last leg of a two-day visit to India to be the chief guest of the Republic Day celebrations.
At a press conference on Friday afternoon, Indian foreign secretary Vinay Kwatra confirmed that Dougnac’s case had been raised by France earlier, as well as, during delegation-level talks with Macron. “This has been brought to our attention by the French side, both prior to the visit and during the visit,” he said.
Kwatra said that France did “appreciate” India’s “frame of reference” to look at the case purely through a lens of compliance with rules.
“We have shared with them, and they appreciate the understanding that the frame of reference that we are looking at it is the compliance of rules…,” he stated.
The Indian foreign secretary claimed that the notice had not got anything to with her reporting. “People are free to do what they are accredited to do in a given space. But here I think the principal issue is whether the person is compliant with the rules and regulations of the state under which they come.”
As per reports, the MHA notice cites multiple reasons for the cancellation of her OCI card, ranging from “malicious” reporting that created a “negative perception” of India, inciting disorder, not taking permission for travelling to restricted areas and reporting on neighbouring countries.
An open letter signed by around 30 India-based foreign correspondents expressed “deep concern” at the MHA notice to Vanessa Dougnac.
This story was originally published in thewire.in. Read the full story here .
