Government sources have clarified that Australian journalist Avani Dias’s assertion of being forced to leave India due to election coverage restrictions is misleading and mischievous. In reality, Dias was in violation of visa rules during her professional pursuits, and her claim is factually incorrect.
Dias, the South Asia Correspondent for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, departed India on April 20. Dias asserted that the government informed her that her routine visa extension would be denied.
According to her, a Ministry of External Affairs official conveyed this decision over the phone, citing that her latest episode of Foreign Correspondent on YouTube had ‘crossed a line’.
ABC journalist Avani Dias' propaganda on her visa extension busted
Watch to know if this Australian Journo has some Anti-India connection@shreya_arora22 pic.twitter.com/d0KK6t2niE
— The Pamphlet (@Pamphlet_in) April 24, 2024
Despite this, upon her request, Avani Dias received assurance that her visa would be extended to cover the general elections.
Her previous visa was valid until April 20, and she paid the visa fee on April 18. On the same day, her visa was extended until the end of June, according to official sources.
According to official sources, Avani Dias made the decision to leave India on April 20. At the time of her departure, she possessed a valid visa, and her visa extension had already been approved. Contrary to her claim, the assertion that she was not allowed to cover elections is factually inaccurate.
Journalist Visa holders are allowed to cover election activities outside of booths. However, authority letters are necessary for access to polling booths and counting stations. Unfortunately, this processing cannot occur while the visa extension is in progress.
Notably, other ABC correspondents, Meghna Bali and Som Patidar, have already received their letters, According to sources.
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