FACT-CHECKING AVANI DIAS’ CLAIMS ON COVERAGE PERMISSION: DEBUNKING MISINFORMATION

The recent assertion by Avani Dias, South Asia Correspondent of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), alleging she was barred from covering elections in India, warrants a closer examination. Contrary to her claims, her portrayal of events seems to be misleading and not entirely accurate.

Dias alleged she was denied access to cover elections and was forced to depart from the country. However, according to sources, “upon closer scrutiny, it becomes evident that she had encountered issues regarding her visa compliance. She was found to have breached visa regulations during her professional activities in India.”

“Despite these infractions, authorities accommodated her request for a visa extension specifically to facilitate her coverage of the general elections,” explained sources.

Her previous visa was set to expire on April 20, 2024. Notably, on April 18, she duly paid the requisite visa fees, and her visa was promptly extended until the end of June on the same day. However, Dias opted to depart India on April 20, even though she possessed a valid visa with an approved extension.

Moreover, her assertion regarding the denial of permission to cover elections is factually inaccurate, stated the source quoted above.

Permission under journalist visa

Journalist visa holders are indeed permitted to cover election activities outside of polling booths. “Access to polling booths and counting stations necessitates authority letters, a process which cannot be expedited while a visa extension is pending,” said the source, explaining that other ABC correspondents, Meghna Bali and Som Patidar, have already obtained their authorization letters.

Inaccurate claims

In light of these clarifications, it becomes evident that Dias’ claims are unsubstantiated and fail to accurately represent the circumstances surrounding her departure from India. This underscores the importance of fact-checking and verifying information before drawing conclusions.

Background

The Chief of Bureau for Australia’s state-owned news outlet in New Delhi disclosed her sudden departure from India, attributing it to the denial of a visa extension by government officials. Avani Dias, the journalist, made this announcement following an encounter with an officer from the Criminal Intelligence Department while producing a program on the alleged targeted assassinations of pro-Khalistan separatists by the Indian government in foreign nations. 

Dias, an Australian national, served as the Bureau Chief of ABC in New Delhi under a J1 (Journalist) visa. Despite applying for a visa extension on January 1, her request coincided with ABC’s coverage of events in Punjab, leading to what she described as intimidation and pressure from government officials. Additionally, YouTube’s removal of an ABC report on the 2023 killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada, reportedly under orders from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, added to the contentious situation.

During their investigation into Nijjar’s killing, the Australian crew visited his family home and met representatives of a Sikh separatist group in Punjab, prompting warnings that they had “crossed a line.” Dias also gained attention for her podcast “Looking for Modi,” exploring the popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and allegations of suppression of dissenting voices in India.

The circumstances surrounding Dias’ departure raised eyebrows, with government sources noting that she had paid for her visa extension prior to leaving, and the extension had been granted. Furthermore, allegations surfaced regarding breaches of security protocols at the Wagah border and failure to comply with visa regulations for documentary filmmaking in India by the ABC crew.

Discussions regarding  Dias’ visa extension had been ongoing between the journalist, the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of External Affairs, and the Australian High Commission. The government maintained that it had assured her of a visa extension for covering the general elections, contradicting her claim of being denied permission.

What she posted on X (formerly Twitter)

“Last week, I had to leave India abruptly. The Modi Government told me my visa extension would be denied, saying my reporting “crossed a line”. After Australian Government intervention, I got a mere two-month extension…less than 24 hours before my flight. We were also told my election accreditation would not come through because of an Indian Ministry directive,” said Dias in a post on ‘X’.

2024-04-24T04:19:32Z dg43tfdfdgfd