New Delhi: An Australian journalist on Tuesday claimed she was forced to leave India after the government refused to extend her work visa, saying her reporting had "crossed the line".
Australian Broadcasting Corporation South Asia bureau chief Avani Dias said she had to leave India on April 19, the day Lok Sabha elections began, because the government objected to her reporting on the killing of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
"Last week, I suddenly had to leave India. The Modi government told me my visa extension would be rejected, saying my reporting had 'crossed a line,'" Dias told OX.
"We were also told that my election would not be recognized due to instructions from the Indian ministry. We left on the very first day of voting in the country that Modi calls the "mother of democracy", said Dias, who works in India. Had done for the last two and a half years.
He said that after intervention by the Australian government, his visa was extended for two months, which he said was "less than 24 hours before the flight".
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation said Dias was informed of the decision by a Foreign Ministry official, who said his recent foreign correspondent episode "crossed a line".
ABC said YouTube also blocked access in India to an episode of its new series Foreign Correspondent on the Nijjar murder.
Australian Broadcasting Corporation South Asia bureau chief Avani Dias said she had to leave India on April 19, the day Lok Sabha elections began, because the government objected to her reporting on the killing of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
"Last week, I suddenly had to leave India. The Modi government told me my visa extension would be rejected, saying my reporting had 'crossed a line,'" Dias told OX.
"We were also told that my election would not be recognized due to instructions from the Indian ministry. We left on the very first day of voting in the country that Modi calls the "mother of democracy", said Dias, who works in India. Had done for the last two and a half years.
He said that after intervention by the Australian government, his visa was extended for two months, which he said was "less than 24 hours before the flight".
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation said Dias was informed of the decision by a Foreign Ministry official, who said his recent foreign correspondent episode "crossed a line".
ABC said YouTube also blocked access in India to an episode of its new series Foreign Correspondent on the Nijjar murder.
