Forced to leave India, alleges Australian journalist. Not true, govt rebuts her

NEW DELHI: Australian journalist Avani Dias claimed on Tuesday that she had to leave India “abruptly” as the government told her an extension of her visa would be denied as her reporting has “crossed a line”. Avani Dias said in a post on X that she was told that her visa extension request would be denied allegedly because her reporting on the Nijjar killing crossed a line Dias, who worked in India as the South Asia bureau chief for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation since January 2022, left the country last week. However, an Indian government official who declined to be named described Dias’s contention that she wasn’t allowed to cover India’s general election and was compelled to leave the country as “not correct”. The reason for her leaving was not delay in issuance of visa but personal reasons.” In a post on X, Dias said, “After Australian Government intervention, I got a mere two-month extension.less than 24 hours before my flight.” She added, “We were also told my election accreditation would not come through because of an Indian Ministry directive. The Indian government official said ABC’s documentary, titled “Sikhs, Murder and Spies” and aired on March 21, was shot without appropriate permissions.