French journalist Sebastien Farcis’ claims that he was ‘forced to leave’ India are incorrect, the external affairs ministry spokesperson said during the ministry’s weekly press conference.
“Mr Farcis is an OCI card holder and under our regulations requires approval to carry out journalistic assignments. He has re-applied for renewal of work permit in May 2024, and to the best of my knowledge, his case is under consideration,” spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on Friday.
“He has the right to make a decision as far as his travel out of the country is concerned,” he further added.
Farcis, who is married to an Indian citizen, also holds an Overseas Citizen Of India (OCI) card.
“After 13 years working as a correspondent in India, the authorities have denied me a permit to work as a journalist. I have thus been forced to leave the country,” Fracis said on ‘X’.
“On June 17, I was forced to leave India, a country where I had lived and worked as a journalist for 13 years, as a South Asia correspondent for Radio France Internationale, Radio France, Liberation and the Swiss and Belgian public radios,” Farcis further added.
Farcis said he had been working in India as a journalist since 2011 and had obtained all the necessary visas and accreditations.
In February, French journalist Vanessa Dougnac left India after the government revoked her Overseas Citizen of India card.
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