Modi govt threatens to expel French journalist from India
New Delhi: French journalist, Vanessa Dougnac, has been threatened with expulsion from India after Narendra Modi-led Hindutva government criticised her claiming that her coverage of India is critical that her activities undermined the country’s security.
This comes as Indian and foreign journalists are increasingly repressed in India, and as the French President Emmanuel Macron arrives for an official visit on Thursday 25 January.
Vanessa Dougnac Dougnac, who has been living in India for 22 years, writes for French publications Le Point and La Croix, and Swiss and Belgian daily newspapers Le Temps and Le Soir from south Asia. But a year and a half ago, the Modi government withdrew her work permit, and is now threatening to expel her by 2 February. The reason given is that her coverage of the country is “malicious” and “critical”. She is also accused of having worked in India since her permit was withdrawn, which she denies.
In recent years, several Indian journalists have already been prosecuted or even imprisoned for their critical coverage of the Modi regime, and foreign journalists regularly have visa problems. But this is the first time that a local correspondent has been threatened with deportation for her work. This comes at a time when India is projecting itself as the “mother of democracy”.
It is to be mentioned here that a notice issued by the Foreigners Registration Office of the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs on January 18 alleged that Vanessa Dougnac’s reportage created “biased negative perception about India”. It asked why her Overseas Citizen of India card should not be withdrawn. Media reports said she has been asked to respond to it by February 2.
Critics say that freedom of press in India is increasingly under attack, with journalists who touch on sensitive topics often subjected to government rebuke.
