The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Friday countered French journalist Sebastien Farcis’ claims that he was forced to leave the country, while clarifying that his application for the renewal of work permit was still under consideration.
“Farcis is an OCI (Overseas Citizenship of India) card holder and under our regulations requires approval to carry out journalistic assignments,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said during a press conference.
Farcis had on Thursday claimed that the Union Ministry of Home Affairs had refused to renew his work permit. “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,” he posted on X.
However, Jaiswal said the journalist had re-applied for the renewal of his permit in May this year. “…He has the right to make a decision in so far as his travel out of the country is concerned,” he added.
Farcis, who has worked as a South Asia correspondent for Radio France Internationale, Radio France, Liberation and Swiss and Belgian public radios, said he had been working in India since 2011 and had all the visas and accreditations required.
The latest incident comes months after the Centre revoked French journalist Vanessa Dougnac’s OCI card, following which she left the country.
