RSF asks India to reconsider French journalist Vanessa Dougnac’s expulsion
RSF says that Dougnac received a notification from the Ministry of Home Affairs regarding the imminent withdrawal of her status as an OCI
International press freedom organisation Reporters without Borders (RSF) has sounded alarm over the potential expulsion of French journalist Vanessa Dougnac, who has been based in the country for over two decades.
In a press statement, the Paris-based organisation says that as French President Emmanuel Macron embarks on a two-day official visit, concerns are mounting over the threats faced by foreign journalists operating in India.
RSF says that Dougnac, a correspondent for French-language media outlets such as Le Point, Le Soir, and La Croix, received a notification from the Ministry of Home Affairs regarding the imminent withdrawal of her status as an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI).
The OCI is a lifetime residency permit granted to foreigners married to Indian citizens. The decision, if confirmed, will force Dougnac to leave India, and she has until February 2 to challenge it.
In its statement the organisation says that last week the home ministry sent a notice to the reporter saying her work was “inimical” to national interests” her journalistic activities are malicious and critical in manner they create biased perception about India, her activities may also provoke disorder and disturb peace.
The notice was issued to Dougnac a week before Macron’s Thursday arrival in India, where he will be guest of honour at the annual Republic Day military parade.
The statement adds that the journalist has also become the target of an online smear campaign, orchestrated by trolls allegedly associated with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Defamatory posts, particularly on X (formerly Twitter), and a slanderous profile on the pro-BJP website OpIndia have intensified attacks on Dougnac, reaching alarming levels of visibility, it says.
RSF says that this incident highlights the growing authoritarianism under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government, which seeks to control journalists and discredit independent media. Press freedom in India, touted as “the world’s biggest democracy,” has steadily declined since Modi took office in 2014. The situation emphasises the need to safeguard journalists and preserve a free and vibrant media landscape in India.
“How many foreign journalists will be able to continue working in India if a professional such as Vanessa Dougnac is expelled. None of the accusations leveled against her is supported. If the threat materialises while the French President is on an official visit, this would send a terrible signal for the future of journalism in India. We urge the authorities not to carry out this threat of expulsion and to allow all foreign media correspondents to work freely in India,” says RSF.
“Dougnac has refrained from reporting in India since September 2022 when her work permit request was denied. She has limited her reporting to neighbouring countries only,” it adds.
