A second foreign journalist has had to leave India this year over reportage that went against the Narendra Modi government’s line.

Former South Asia bureau chief of public news outlet Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), Avani Dias, wrote on X: “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. We left on day one of voting in the national election in
what Modi calls ‘the mother of democracy’.”

The external affairs ministry and the Election Commission have not responded to queries from The Telegraph.

A source said: "Ms Dias was found to have violated visa rules while undertaking her professional pursuits. Inspite of this, on her request, she was assured that her visa would be extended for the coverage of the general election. Her previous visa was valid till April 20, 2024. She paid the visa fee on April 18 and her visa was extended till end-June the same day. She, however, chose to leave India on April 20. At the time of her departure, she held a valid visa and her extension of visa stood approved."

In February, French journalist Vanessa Dougnac had to leave after her Overseas Citizen of India card was revoked despite intervention on her behalf by her government. She was accused of spreading “negative perceptions of India” through her “malicious reporting” — charges she denied.

An ABC news report published on its website on Tuesday said: “ABC News South Asia bureau chief Avani Dias was told a routine visa extension would be denied by the Indian government, days after it blocked her reporting on YouTube in the country.

“Dias was informed of the decision via a phone call from an official at the Ministry of External Affairs, who said her most recent Foreign Correspondent episode ‘crossed a line’.”

The episode covered the killing of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada last year, which led to a major global dispute after Canada accused Indian government agents of involvement in his murder.

It was blocked on YouTube in India along with a related news story.

After weeks of lobbying by Australian diplomats and the office of foreign affairs minister Penny Wong, the Indian government finally overturned the decision and renewed the visa for two months — less than 24 hours before Dias was due to leave the country.

“It felt too difficult to do my job in India. I was struggling to get into public events run by Modi’s party, the government wouldn’t even give me the passes I needed to cover the election and the ministry left it all so late, that we were already packed up and ready to go,” Dias said in an episode of her podcast, Looking for Modi.

Dias did not respond to queries, sent by this paper via the ABC website on the exact details of the alleged harassment she faced.

The Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance trade union of Australia tweeted: “#Pressfreedom in India has deteriorated sharply under the Modi Government. #MEAAmedia is appalled that @AvaniDias felt so uncomfortable continuing to report there that she has had to leave the country.”

India is ranked at 161 out of 180 in last year’s World Press Freedom Index—which the Centre has rubbished.