Australian Journalist's Claim of Being Denied Election Coverage in India Misleading, Sources Say

The claim made by Australian journalist Geeta Mohan that she was not permitted to cover the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in India is misleading and false, according to official sources.

The controversy arose when Avani Dias, a South Asia correspondent for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), alleged that she was told her visa extension would be denied and that she was forced to leave the country.

However, government sources have stated that Dias was found to have violated visa rules while undertaking her professional duties in India. Despite this, Dias was informed that her visa would be extended at her request for the coverage of the Lok Sabha elections. In fact, Dias was granted an extension until the end of June for her previous visa, which was valid until April 20, 2024. The process of granting the visa extension was completed on April 18, 2024, the day Dias paid the visa fee.

Sources also revealed that Dias chose to leave India on April 20th, even though her visa was still valid at the time of her departure. The assertion made by Dias that she was not granted authorization to cover elections has also been debunked. Coverage of election activities outside of polling booths is permitted to all Journalist Visa holders, and authority letters are only required for access to polling booths and counting stations.

India Today journalist Geeta Mohan has cited official sources to counter the claims made by Dias and a group of 30 foreign correspondents who wrote an open letter propagating the same false narrative. Mohan criticized the 'Sahib attitude' of the journalists, suggesting that their aim is 'agenda peddling and not reporting facts on the ground.'

Why this matters: The controversy surrounding the allegations made by the Australian journalists has raised concerns about the freedom of the press and the treatment of foreign correspondents in India. The incident has garnered international attention and has the potential to impact diplomatic relations between India and Australia.

Government sources have emphasized that Dias' visa extension was approved, and she was allowed to cover the elections. They have also clarified the rules regarding election coverage for foreign journalists holding Journalist Visas. "Coverage of election activities outside of booths is permitted to all Journalist Visa holders, and authority letters are required only for access to polling booths and counting stations," the sources stated. The sources further noted that other ABC correspondents, Meghna Bali and Som Patidar, have already received their authority letters to cover the elections.

Key Takeaways

• Australian journalist Avani Dias' claim of not being allowed to cover India's 2024 polls is false.
• Dias was found to have violated visa rules, but her visa extension was approved for election coverage.
• Journalist Visa holders can cover election activities outside polling booths without special authorization.
• Other ABC correspondents have received authority letters to cover the elections in India.
• The incident has raised concerns about press freedom and India-Australia diplomatic relations.