ABC journalist’s claim that she was compelled to leave India not correct: Sources
| 2024-04-24
Avani Dias (pic sourced from X)
ABC journalist Avani Dias left India because she had to meet the timeline for another job offer in Australia, sources said
Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s South Asia Correspondent Avani Dias who said she was compelled to leave India on April 19 and was not allowed to cover general elections in the country as the Indian government denied her a visa extension after her documentary ‘Sikh, Spies and Murder: Investigating India’s alleged hit on foreign soil,’ had “crossed a line,” is factually incorrect, misleading, and mischievous, source said.
Rather the fact is she left India because she had to meet the timeline for another job offer in Australia. “The reason for her leaving (India) was not delay in the issuance of visa but personal reasons,” persons familiar with the development said.
Avani Dias said she obtained an extension for visa just 24 hours before her departure from India. However, the reality is that “during a meeting in early April, it was assured that her visa would be renewed and to this regard, an extension letter was issued in early April for her to make a fresh application,” sources said. The ABC’s South Asia correspondent’s previous visa was valid till April 20, 2024.
Following her request, she was assured that her visa would be extended for the coverage of the general elections even though she was found to have “violated visa rules while undertaking her professional pursuits,” source said.
She paid the visa renewal fee on April 18--just one day before her sudden departure from India. “Her visa was renewed till June end so that she could cover elections and undertake other journalistic activities,” sources said.
Therefore, her point about not being given permission to cover elections is factually incorrect, persons familiar with the development said. Coverage of election activities outside of booths is permitted to all journalist visa holders. Authority letters are required only for access to polling booths and counting stations, sources said.
This, however, cannot be processed while the visa extension is under process. It is pertinent to note that other ABC correspondents, Meghna Bali and Som Patidar have already received their letters, sources said.
Avani Dias said she was denied visa extension after ABC’s documentary ‘Sikh, Spies and Murder: Investigating India’s alleged hit on foreign soil,’ went on air on March 21, 2024.
The documentary prepared by her was shot without appropriate permissions. BSF had declined permission to shoot close to Wagah border because of security related restrictions, sources said.
This apart, the contentious documentary glorified terrorism (such as assassination of ex-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, bombing of Air India Kanishka etc) and provided a platform to extremists and fringe groups of separatists (Dal Khasla, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, Sikhs for Justice Australia).
The documentary also lacked objectivity as it failed to mention the support for the Indian state in Punjab; it had a pro Khalistan stance, sources said. Given all this, the documentary was blocked on YouTube by orders from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on March 24.
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