An Australian journalist was deported for ‘crossing his line’ after criticizing the Hindu nationalist Narendra Modi government, raising concerns about press freedom in the country.
Avani Dias, South Asia bureau chief for Australia’s national broadcaster ABC News, claimed that the Hindu nationalist government had made it “very difficult” for him to report from India, including the national elections that began last week. Coverage is also included.
In one of his posts on X, Dias wrote: ‘Last week, I suddenly had to leave India. Modi government told me that my visa will not be extended. After the intervention of the Australian government, my visa was extended for a mere two months just 24 hours before the flight.’
He further wrote: ‘We were also informed that I would not be allowed to cover the election process as directed by the Indian Ministry. We had to leave the country on the first day of the national elections, which Modi calls the ‘mother of democracy’.
In the latest episode of her ‘Looking for Modi’ podcast, Dias, who has been working in India since January 2022, said that an official from India’s Ministry of External Affairs called her and told her that her visa should not be renewed. and they will have to leave the country in a couple of weeks.’
He was told that the decision was made because of the coverage of the killing of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nagar, who was killed in Canada last year.
According to him: ‘The official told me specifically that this was done because of my Sikh separatist news and that it had gone too far.’
Najar’s killing has further strained relations between India and Canada after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his government had credible evidence of the involvement of Indian operatives in the June 18 murder.
India has denied these allegations.
The Australian journalist said in the podcast: ‘It was very difficult to do my job in India. I was facing difficulties in going to public events held by Modi’s party. The government didn’t even give me the passes I needed to cover the election and the ministry did it all so late when we were already packed and ready to go.’
According to him: ‘It was all done on purpose. The Narendra Modi government harassed me so much that we decided to leave.’
Modi is expected to win an unusual third term in these elections as he is popular among the country’s Hindu majority.
The decision not to extend Dias’ visa comes after the Indian government issued a notice to YouTube demanding the removal of an episode of ABC’s leading international news program ‘Foreign Correspondent’, which featured The story of Najar’s murder was covered up.
The journalist added in his podcast: ‘Now when you try to watch it on YouTube in India, it has been removed due to a government order related to national security or public order. Other reports have been similarly removed.’
ABC managing director David Anderson said the broadcaster stood by Dias’ reporting.
He said, ‘The channel fully supports and stands by Ivani Dias’ important and impactful reporting during her tenure as ABC correspondent in India. She is joining the Four Corners team as a reporter in the next few weeks. The ABC strongly believes in the role of a free press around the world and in the freedom of the press outside of Australia.’
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The deportation of Australian journalist Diyas has raised concerns about a media crackdown in India. Reports from foreign journalists and news outlets say they are coming under increasing pressure from the Modi government, which has used its discretion over visa issuance and renewal as a weapon against them.
Last year, tax authorities raided the BBC’s offices in Delhi and Mumbai after the British broadcaster aired a documentary investigating Modi’s role in the 2002 Gujarat riots. More than a thousand people were killed in this incident, most of whom were Muslims. Narendra Modi was the Chief Minister of the state at that time.
According to the 2023 report of the journalism organization ‘Committee to Protect Journalists’, at least seven journalists are currently in jail in India. In January this year, French journalist Vanessa Dougnecht announced that she was leaving India after nearly two decades.
Dougnecht also claimed that he is being prevented from working as a journalist in the country despite having permanent Indian residency, i.e. overseas citizenship, because the government considers his reporting to be ‘malicious and critical’.
The World Press Freedom Index ranked India 161 out of 180 countries in 2023.
The Independent has contacted India’s Ministry of External Affairs for comment on the Australian journalist’s claim.
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2024-08-17 07:24:07
