The Union home ministry has accused a French journalist of spreading “negative perceptions about India” through her “malicious reporting” and issued a notice to her asking why her Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card should not be cancelled permanently.
Vanessa Dougnac, who writes for a French publication, is married to an Indian and has been living in India for the past 22 years. She came to India on a journalist visa and later got the OCI card.
The notice was issued to Dougnac on January 19, days before the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron who is the chief guest at the Republic Day parade this year.
“The journalist has been asked to reply by February 2. Action will be taken after going through her response,” said a ministry official.
Home ministry sources said Dougnac had been under the scanner of the government agencies for the past few years. “Through her malicious reporting she has spread negative perceptions about India,” said a ministry official.
Besides, she had violated visa norms, including travelling to Ladakh, in the past. “A foreign journalist is required to take special permits to go to Ladakh,” the official said.
Sources said she had in the past visited Maoist-hit areas in Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh and filed negative and biased stories highlighting the atrocities against Christians and tribals.