French journalist faces OCI status withdrawal over alleged 'malicious' reporting
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New Delhi: The Indian government has issued a notice to a French journalist, Vanessa Dougnac, threatening to revoke her Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) status.
The Home Ministry alleges that her work is “malicious” and creates a “biased negative perception” of India.
The notice claims that Dougnac's reporting is “critical in a manner that creates a biased negative perception about India” and has the potential to “provoke disorder and disturb peace in certain sections of society.”
Dougnac, who has been living in India for 22 years and is married to an Indian, confirmed that she had received the notice and has 15 days until February 2 to respond. The Overseas Citizen of India status allows foreigners of Indian origin to live and work in the country indefinitely.
Losing this status would require the individual to leave India and apply for a visa to return.
In her response, Dougnac denied the allegations, stating, “India is my home, a country which I deeply love and respect, and I have never engaged in any acts that are in any manner prejudicial to Indian interests as is being alleged.” She expressed her willingness to cooperate with the legal process and requested that her privacy be respected during this time.
The notice, issued on January 18 by the Foreigners Registration Office under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, accuses Dougnac's work of potentially causing disorder and unrest in certain sections of society. The journalist criticised The Print, the publication that reported the notice, for publishing the article without seeking her comment or permission.
As the legal process unfolds and the issues remain pending consideration before the authorities, Dougnac urged that the process be allowed to run its course.