French President Emmanuel Macron's two-day visit to India on the occasion of Republic Day concluded on January 26, 2024. France President Macron started his India visit from Jaipur and later became the chief guest at India's 75th Republic Day. While the camaraderie between Macron & Modi indeed grabbed global headlines, the issue of Vanessa Dougnac was also raised. For the unversed, Vanessa Dougnac was issued notice by the Government of India for carrying out alleged malicious reporting. Vanessa Dougnac is of French origin married to an Indian and is living in New Delhi. After Vanessa Dougnac was sent a notice saying that she may lose her OIC Card, many French & global journalists came in solidarity with her. Now, the question arises who is Vanessa Dougnac who may have dented the Modi-Macron friendship? Below is everything you need to know about Vanessa Dougnac-
Who is Vanessa Dougnac?
Vanessa Dougnac is a French journalist who is currently residing in New Delhi. As per reports, Vanessa Dougnac is living in India for the past 22 years. Vanessa Dougnac has received a 15-day deadline from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) asking why her OCI card should not be revoked. Legal notice to accuse Vanessa Dougnac that she is 'undertaking journalistic activities without any special permission as required under Citizenship Act 1955 and rules/regulations issued thereunder."
Vanessa Dougnac has to file her reply till February 2nd, 2024 or else her OIC card will be revoked and therefore she may face deportation from India.
The legal notice to Vanessa Dougnac also stated her reporting was 'malicious and critical in manner that they create biased negative perception about India.' Furthermore, the notice reportedly accuse the French journalist that her work 'provoke disorder and disturb peace in certain sections of the society.'
It is pertinent to mention here that Vanessa Dougnac's work permit was cancelled in October 2022 and she has not been reporting since then at least within India. She has been reporting from Sri Lanka, Maldives, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal largely for French Newspaper Le Croix (The Cross). As per reports, multiple reports penned by the French journalist for Le Croix have been flagged as fake news.
India's MEA Response to Vanessa Dougnac's Issue
Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra during a daily press briefing said, "...We are aware of the matter. This matter is being dealt by the relevant department in the Government of India. I think the key element in this is to focus is the frame of reference in which we look at it. And the frame of reference to look at is the compliance with the rules and regulations of the country. I don't think this has got anything else to do with the other aspects of journalism, etc. People are free to do what they are accredited to do in a given space. But here I think the principal issue is whether the person is compliant with the rules and regulations..."