Vanessa Dougnac, a French journalist working in Delhi, departed the country on Friday, claiming she was being “forced to leave by the Government of India.” Last month, the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) sent her a notice accusing her of ‘malicious’ reporting and requesting an explanation as to why her Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) status should not be revoked for purported rule violations.
In her 23 years as a journalist, Dougnac has covered a variety of topics, including the Maoist insurgency. She is married to an Indian national and was previously the South Asia Correspondent for La Croix, Le Point, Le Temps, and Le Soir.
Dougnac made the following statement in an evening statement on Friday: “Last month, I received a notice that claimed that my articles and were ‘malicious,’ harming ‘the interests of the sovereignty and integrity of India,’ and that I should explain why my OCI card should not be cancelled.’” My articles may “provoke disorder and disturb peace,” the notice continued.
Curbing Dissent from the OCI Community
She said, “I’m writing these words while crying. I’m leaving India today, the place I studied 25 years ago and have been a journalist for 23 years. The location I call home, is where I raised my son after getting married.” She said, “I am being forced to leave by the Government of India. I am not leaving by choice.” In her statement, she said, “I was denied permission to work as a journalist by the Ministry of Home Affairs sixteen months ago without any explanation or hearing.”
“Since then, I have repeatedly asked the Ministry to explain or review this arbitrary action, and they have never once replied. I have been wrongfully accused of undermining the state’s interests, which prevents me from working today. It is now obvious that I cannot continue to support myself while living in India. I fully trust the legal system and am contesting these allegations in the appropriate forums. However, I am unable to wait for its conclusion,” she remarked, adding that she hoped to return to India in the future. “I feel torn apart by the processes surrounding my OCI status, more so now that I realise they are a part of the Government of India’s larger attempt to silence the OCI community,” Dougnac stated.
She claimed that earlier, the authorities had advised her to change her line of work. She remarked, “But I am a journalist, a career I cherish, and I don’t want to stop because of unverified accusations.”
French Government attempted to get the resolved
When President Emmanuel Macron visited France for the Republic Day celebrations last month, France had actually brought up the Dougnac issue with India. The French side was informed by India that the matter had nothing to do with her journalism and had to do with “adherence to national laws and regulations.”
Vinay Kwatra, the foreign secretary, had stated that the proper government office was handling the matter, adding that it had been brought to their notice from the French side before and during President Macron’s visit.