India recently canceled visas and residence permits for foreigners with Indian connections, including spouses of Indian citizens. This has caused distress as many have been denied entry or deported.
Vanessa Dougnac, a 51-year-old French journalist living in New Delhi for nearly 25 years, is one of those affected. She received a letter at home informing her that her Indian residency was revoked.
During her time in India, Dougnac worked as a freelance reporter for French publications, covering stories across the country. She also got married, raised a son, and became part of the local culture. However, recent changes have made her life more complicated and stressful.
The letter, received on January 18, brought the news of Dougnac’s revoked residency. She was banned from India because she opposed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s policies, particularly those related to Hindu nationalism.
Amnesty International criticized India’s stricter citizenship laws under Modi, raising concerns about human rights.
As Modi gears up for the 2024 elections, there are worries about India moving towards favoring Hindu interests and being less tolerant of differing opinions or minority religions.
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