France Shows Concern Over Potential Expulsion of French Journalist During President Macron's Visit to India

The issue of the likely expulsion of a French journalist by India was flagged by France during the ongoing visit of French President Emmanuel Macron even as New Delhi insisted that it had to do with “violation of rules” rather than the nature of her journalism, according to a report by The Wire.

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 referring to a “violation of visa rules” in connection with her reporting and asked her to respond by February 2. Dougnac has been a resident of India for about 22 years and is married to an Indian. She is a correspondent for the Le Croix and Le Point media outlets.

Dougnac, in a statement, has denied all the allegations and stated that she is cooperating with the legal process.

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 the journalist’s profession or her family life, reported The Wire.

Indian foreign secretary Vinay Kwatra reportedly acknowledged on Friday that the issue had been raised by France earlier, as well as, during Macron’s two-day visit to India on the occasion of Republic Day.

The Wire quoted Kwatra who said that France did “appreciate” India’s “frame of reference” to look at the case purely through a lens of compliance with rules. “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,” he was quoted as saying as he denied any connection of the notice to Dougnac’s reporting.

As per reports, the MHA notice has listed 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.

The open letter signed by 30 India-based foreign journalists, however, expressed “deep concern” over the notice. It read: “While foreign correspondents have grappled with increased visa restrictions in recent years, our colleagues with OCI status have faced particular difficulty from new and often opaque administrative burdens, hampering their ability to work as journalists.”

The signatories of the letter include journalists from the Le Monde, The New York Times, The Washington Post, France 24, The Economist, The Guardian and France Télévisions.

The foreign correspondents requested the Indian authorities to “facilitate the vital work of a free press in line with India’s democratic traditions” in the open letter.