India on Friday refuted claims made by French journalist Sebastien Farcis, who alleged he was "forced to leave" the country after his journalist work permit was denied by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
This statement came a day after Farcis claimed that, following over 13 years as a correspondent in India, he had to leave because his work permit application was denied by the home ministry.
Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal clarified that Farcis, an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholder, required a specific permission or work permit to engage in journalistic activities in India.
In an official statement, Jaiswal said, "Sebastien Farcis is an OCI cardholder. According to regulations, OCI cardholders need permission or a work permit to carry on journalistic activities. He applied for the permit in May 2024, and his application is still under consideration. The decision to leave the country was his own. His work permit application is under review, having been reapplied for in May 2024."
Farcis, in a statement shared on social media platform X, asserted that after 13 years of working as a journalist in India for various international media outlets, the Home Ministry had refused to renew his journalist permit on March 7. This, he claimed, effectively prevented him from practicing his profession and cut off his income.
He alleged that no reasons were provided for this denial despite multiple formal requests to the Ministry of Home Affairs. Farcis said he had followed all regulations for foreign journalists in India and never worked in restricted or protected areas without the necessary permits.
Farcis suggested that the timing of the work permit cancellation, during the Lok Sabha elections, seemed to him like an act of "incomprehensible censorship."
He also highlighted the significant personal impact of this decision, stating, "This decision has greatly affected my family. I am married to an Indian woman and hold OCI status, making me deeply attached to India, which I consider my second homeland. With no work or income, my family has been uprooted overnight without any clear reason."
Farcis's statement underscored the emotional and financial strain caused by the permit denial, emphasizing the abrupt and unexplained nature of the situation that forced his departure from India.
