The Centre has rejected French journalist Sebastien Farcis’ claims that he was “forced to leave” the country and that his work permit renewal was being reviewed. Farcis is the South Asia correspondent for Radio France Internationale, Radio France, Liberation and the Swiss and Belgian public radios.

“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,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.

“He has the right to make a decision in so far as his travel out of the country is concerned,” Jaiswal added.

Farcis had alleged that he was forced to leave India after 13 years when the Home Ministry refused to renew his work permit. He left India on June 17.

“No reason has been provided to justify this work ban, despite formal and repeated requests made to the MHA. I have tried to appeal also, but to no avail so far,” he said in a post on X.

“This decision also had a great impact on my family: I am married to an Indian woman, and I have the Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) status. I am therefore deeply attached to India, which has become my second homeland. But with no more work nor income, my family has been pushed out of India without explanation, and uprooted overnight for no apparent reason,” he added.

Alleging censorship from the Indian government, Farcis, who had been working in India as a journalist since 2011, said he had obtained all the requisite visas and accreditations.

“I have… never worked in restricted or protected areas without a permit. On several occasions, the MHA even granted me permits to report from border areas,” he said in a statement posted on X.

In February, French journalist Vanessa Dougnac left India after the government revoked her Overseas Citizen of India card. She had been the longest serving foreign correspondent in India.

Farcis said that at least five OCI journalists have been banned from working in India in less than two years.