The government notifies a French journalist about their “malicious” and “biased” reportage
Vanessa Dougnac, a French journalist residing in New Delhi, has received a notification from the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRQO) requesting an explanation as to why her Overseas Citizen of India card should not be canceled. The Union Home ministry-affiliated FRRO described her journalistic work as malevolent and purportedly distorting the public’s image of India.
News agency AFP cited the notice as stating, “Her journalistic activities are malicious and critical in a manner… they create a biased perception about India.” “Moreover, her actions might incite chaos and disrupt tranquility.”
The Ministry of Home Affairs was contacted by HT, but HT did not hear back until late on Tuesday.
Dougnac, a French writer, has been residing in India for almost twenty years and is employed for the French media source Le Croix. The notification was made public on Tuesday, one day before French President Emmanuel Macron, the parade’s principal guest this year, was scheduled to come.
“IT can verify that I’ve had a notification from the relevant Indian government agency, and I refute all the accusations and imputations made against me and my behavior,” Dougnac released a statement. “India is my home, a nation that I adore and respect greatly, and I have never done anything that would be considered detrimental to Indian interests, as is being claimed.”
She said, “I will cooperate with the legal process that deals with such matters.” “I would request that the legal process be allowed to run its course and that my privacy be respected during this time, as the issues are pending consideration before the concerned authorities and the legal process is ongoing.”
