The Indian government has recently canceled the visas and residence permits of foreign nationals with Indian roots, including spouses of Indian citizens. This policy has left many facing distressing experiences after being denied entry or deported.
As a result, Vanessa Dougnac, a French journalist who has lived in New Delhi for nearly 25 years, faced such a thing when she received a personally delivered envelope, VisaGuide.World reports.
Dougnac, 51, had made India her home, including most of her adult life. During this time, she worked as a freelance correspondent for various French publications based in India for 23 years.
As France 24 News reports, her work took her all over the country, covering different stories. She also married an Indian national, raised a son, and became deeply rooted in the local way of life. However, the once straightforward aspects of life in India were now fraught with complications and stress.
The official communication, received on January 18, delivered the unwelcome news that Dougnac’s Indian residency had been revoked. Joining the growing chorus of international critics, Dougnac found herself banned from India over her opposition to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist policies.
The Modi administration is tightening Indian citizenship laws in various ways. They aim to target and punish those who speak out against the government, according to Amnesty International. This has led to increased human rights concerns during Modi’s 10-year tenure.
As Modi prepares for the 2024 elections, many worry that India’s democracy is shifting towards a Hindu-first nation that does not tolerate dissent or minority religions.
The OCI Cards to Facilitate Engagement With India’s Diaspora
Dougnac was one of nearly four million people with an Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) card. These cards, similar to passports, give holders visa and residence rights. In addition, they cost around $275 and are available to foreign nationals with Indian roots or spouses of Indian citizens.
India does not allow dual citizenship, so OCI cards serve as a way for the government to connect with its large and wealthy diaspora. As of 2020, there were about 18 million people in the Indian diaspora worldwide, making it the largest. They often send money home, with India receiving almost $108 billion in remittances in 2022, more than any other country.
As Modi continued his second term, the rules became stricter. In 2021, the government made it mandatory for overseas “citizens” to seek “special permission” for activities like research, journalism, missionary work, or mountaineering.
On January 18, Dougnac received a letter from the Foreign Regional Registration Office (FRRO). She hoped it was her journalist permit, which had been denied in September 2022 without explanation. In this regard, for Dougnac, being denied the journalist permit meant a significant loss of income, and she was keen to return to work as a freelance journalist.
The letter Dougnac received from the FRRO didn’t grant her the journalist permit she had hoped for. Instead, it revoked her OCI and accused her and her articles of being “malicious” and harming “the interests of the sovereignty and integrity of India.” The notice shifted the responsibility to Dougnac, asking her to explain why her OCI shouldn’t be canceled.