News Brief
'Misleading And Mischievous': Government On Australian Journalist Avani Dias' Claim That She Was Forced To Leave India
Kuldeep Negi
Apr 24, 2024, 08:43 AM | Updated 08:41 AM IST
Save & read from anywhere!
Bookmark stories for easy access on any device or the Swarajya app.
The government has strongly refuted claims made by an Australian journalist regarding the circumstances surrounding her abrupt departure from India on the first day of the Lok Sabha elections.
According to government sources, Avani Dias's claim that her visa extension was denied, which forced her to leave India, is inaccurate and misleading.
In posts on social media, Dias, the South Asia Bureau Chief for Australian broadcaster ABC News said she had to leave India on 19 April, the day on which polling for the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections was held.
"Last week, I had to leave India abruptly. The Modi Government told me my visa extension would be denied, saying my reporting 'crossed a line'. After Australian Government intervention, I got a mere two-month extension... less than 24 hours before our flight," Dias claimed in a post on X.
"We were also told my election accreditation would not come through because of an Indian Ministry directive," she added.
Responding to her claims, a government source said, "The contention of Avani Dias, South Asia correspondent of Australian Broadcasting Corporation, that she was not allowed to cover elections and was compelled to leave the country is not correct, misleading and mischievous", NDTV reported.
The sources clarified that while Dias was found to have violated visa rules, the government had nonetheless assured her that her visa would be extended to allow her to cover the elections.
"Ms Dias was found to have violated visa rules while undertaking her professional pursuits. Inspite of this, on her request, she was assured that her visa would be extended for the coverage of the general elections. Her previous visa was valid till 20th April 2024," the source added.
Also Read: India's Strategic Forces Command Successfully Tests New Variant Of Medium-Range Ballistic Missile
Save & read from anywhere!
Bookmark stories for easy access on any device or the Swarajya app.
Kuldeep is Senior Editor (Newsroom) at Swarajya. He tweets at @kaydnegi.
Support Swarajya's 50 Ground Reports Project & Sponsor A Story
Every general election Swarajya does a 50 ground reports project.
Aimed only at serious readers and those who appreciate the nuances of political undercurrents, the project provides a sense of India's electoral landscape. As you know, these reports are produced after considerable investment of travel, time and effort on the ground.
This time too we've kicked off the project in style and have covered over 30 constituencies already. If you're someone who appreciates such work and have enjoyed our coverage please consider sponsoring a ground report for just Rs 2999 to Rs 19,999 - it goes a long way in helping us produce more quality reportage.
You can also back this project by becoming a subscriber for as little as Rs 999 - so do click on this links and choose a plan that suits you and back us.
Click below to contribute.