New Delhi: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) granted journalism permit to French journalist Vanessa Dougnac more than a year after she was asked to leave the country.
Dougnac left India in February 2024 after MHA revoked her Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card alongside giving her a two-week notice, The Wire reported.
The longest-serving foreign journalist in India approached the Delhi Court in March 2024 challenging the MHA’s decision seeking permission to continue work in India.
When French President Emmanuel Macron visited India as chief guest for 2024 Republic Day celebrations, her case was raised.
Responding to the French side, then-Indian foreign secretary Vinay Kwatra said at the time that the actions against her were unrelated to her reporting.
On March 27, Dougnac announced that Indian government allowed her to resume work in New Delhi as a foreign correspondent.
‘After two and a half years of being denied permission to undertake journalistic activities, the government of India has authorised me to resume my profession,’ she reportedly said.
Welcoming the government’s decision she added that the permit was valid for one year.
‘I acknowledge and welcome the decision of the Indian authorities and will reflect on my next steps,’ she was quoted as saying.
Expressing relief at having her professional rights as a journalist restored, she said she always wanted to work ‘with integrity and rigour, in a country I love and respect’.
She said that revoking of her permit led to uprooting her from her 25 years in Delhi as a regional correspondent for India and South Asia.
‘Under the threat of serious accusations and the possibility of expulsion, I was forced to leave India suddenly in February 2024,’ she reportedly said.