New Delhi: Noting that a French journalist’s “malicious” work has created a “biased negative perception” of the country and that the journalist is in violation of visa rules, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has issued a notice to the journalist asking why their Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card should not be cancelled.
The French journalist, married to an Indian and living here for 22 years, has been given a 15-day deadline ending 2 February to respond. In the event of losing their OCI status, the journalist will have to leave the country and apply for a visa to come back.
The journalist has been “undertaking journalistic activities without any special permission as required under Citizenship Act 1955 and rules/regulations issued thereunder,” states a document issued by the Foreigners Registration Office (FRRO) of the MHA on 18 January.
ThePrint has accessed the FRRO notice.
The notice alleges that the journalist’s reportage was “malicious” and “critical in manner that they create biased negative perception about India”. It further accuses the French national’s work as having the ability to “provoke disorder and disturb peace in certain sections of society”.
This comes ahead of French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to India on 26 January as the chief guest of the Republic Day parade. The French President will be on a two-day state visit later this week, during which he is expected to hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
ThePrint contacted the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to inquire if this matter will feature in bilateral talks between the two leaders but did not get a response. ThePrint also reached the spokesperson of the French Embassy in India on WhatsApp for a response, but did not receive a reply.
Journalist denies claims
In a statement to ThePrint, the journalist confirmed receipt of the notice, and denied claims from the Indian government. “I can confirm that I have received a notice from the concerned department of the Government of India, and that I deny all the allegations and imputations made therein against me and my conduct. India is my home, a country which I deeply love and respect, and I have never engaged in any acts that are in any manner prejudicial to Indian interests as is being alleged.”
The journalist added that they will continue to cooperate with Indian authorities in the ongoing legal process.
However, government sources told ThePrint that the French paper Le Croix (The Cross), which the journalists works for, has published articles from India during this period which are factually wrong and has been taken up by the concerned department.
The sources also said the journalist’s reporting since 2008 has primarily focussed on naxal areas and the communal tensions prevalent there. They added that the journalist is also in “serious violation” of their visa rules which has been communicated to the journalist repeatedly.
According to the FRRO document, the journalist must respond to the show cause by 2 February as to why the OCI card should not stand cancelled.
If the journalist does not submit the reply within the stipulated time, it will be presumed that they have “nothing to say in the matter and appropriate legal action under the Citizenship Act 1955 shall be taken by the competent authority without any further notice”, it states.
This report has been updated to reflect the French journalist’s comments.
Inputs from Snehesh Alex Phillip
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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Nice story