Attention, Foreign Journalists In India: Respect Local Laws Or Else Risk Being Blacklisted, Says Central Government

Considering the sensitivity in certain regions of the country, Ministry of Home Affairs has put forth a modest attempt to remind foreign journalists that they must be respectful of the laws of the land. Those who violate them will certainly not be punished, but might be blacklisted for a few months’ time.

The news is coming out after Cathal McNaughton, Chief Photographer of New Delhi’s Reuters flouted visa rules and had been denied entry to India. This can be reviewed after six months or a year. The journalist had not obtained permissions to report from protected areas of Jammu and Kashmir. He is a Pulitzer Prize winner.

An MHA official was quoted by Deccan Chronicle as saying, “Everybody has to follow the law. For violation, the consequence is the same for everybody. Foreigners should respect Indian laws. If any Indian violates the law of a foreign country, he or she is also liable to be punished. He may be a winner of some awards, but that does not give him the licence to violate Indian laws. The Ministry of External Affairs regularly informs foreign journalists about Indian rules and regulations. And in certain places, a foreigner is required to take permission. If you violate these rules and regulations, we are bound to take action.”

Reporting from national parks, defence installations, sanctuaries, border districts and other places of strategic importance needs prior permission from the MHA. Usually, the permissions to shoot in areas like the northeastern states and J&K requires a special permit issued by MoEA’s External Publicity Division.

The Protected Areas in India are Arunachal Pradesh, parts of J&K, Himachal, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand and Sikkim.