A day after French journalist Sebastien Farcis claimed that the Ministry of Home Affairs denied renewing his work permit on March 7, forcing him to leave the country, the Ministry of External Affairs on Friday issued a response on the matter. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that Farcis had reapplied for his work permit in May 2024 and that his application was still under consideration.
The French jounrnalist, who had been working in India as a South Asia correspondent for the last 13 years, claimed that he was not provided aby reason justifying his work ban even after repeated requests to MHA. "The authorities have denied me a permit to work as a journalist. I have thus been forced to leave the country," he said.
Responding to this, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal clarified: "Sebastien Farcis is an OCI card holder. If you are an OCI card holder, you need permission or a work permit to carry on your journalistic activities. He applied in May of 2024 and his application is still under consideration."
The MEA Spokesperson further said that it is his decision to leave the country, adding, "If he has taken it, that's fine. But, his work permit application is still under consideration. He had reapplied it here in May of 2024."
Informing about the matter, the French journalist had issued a statement, which he had posted on his X account on Thursday.
"I have been working as a journalist in India since 2011, and have obtained all the necessary visas and accreditations. I have respected the regulations imposed in India for foreign journalists and never worked in restricted or protected areas without a permit. On several occasions, the MHA even granted me permits to report from border areas," his statement on X read.
Farcis also said that he had applied for a new work permit, hoping it will be accepted.
"In the meantime, as I am not able to work, I am forced to return to France," he added.
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