Avani Dias, an Australian journalist, made headlines when she asserted that she was barred from covering the 2024 Lok Sabha polls and was compelled to depart from India. However, her claims have been disputed by sources, who have labelled them as “not correct, misleading, and mischievous.”
Dias, serving as the South Asia Correspondent for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), was also found to have contravened visa regulations while pursuing her professional responsibilities in India. Despite this violation, upon her request, Dias was assured of a visa extension to facilitate her coverage of the general elections.
As per sources, Dias’s previous visa was due to expire on April 20, 2024. On April 18, she paid the requisite visa fee, leading to an extension of her visa until June on the same day. However, Dias chose to depart from India on April 20. It’s notable that at the time of her departure, she possessed a valid visa, and her visa extension had been formally approved.
Furthermore, the sources emphasized that Dias’s assertions regarding her denial to cover the elections are factually inaccurate. They clarified that all journalists holding valid visas are permitted to cover election-related activities outside of polling booths. However, access to polling booths and counting stations necessitates authority letters, a process that was impeded due to the ongoing procedure for visa extension. Interestingly, the sources noted that other ABC correspondents, including Meghna Bali and Som Patidar, had already received their authority letters.
In summary, while Dias’s claims garnered attention, they have been refuted by sources who characterized them as lacking in accuracy and being misleading. The visa extension granted to Dias for election coverage, her timely departure with a valid visa, and the established protocol for journalists’ access to election venues all contradict her assertions.
-TIN Bureau