In the midst of a dispute over a denied visa extension for Australian journalist Avani Dias in India, the United States weighed in by highlighting India's autonomy in setting its visa policies. US State Department Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel refrained from directly commenting on India's visa policies, emphasizing that it is within the government of India's jurisdiction to dictate its own visa regulations. Patel's statement came in response to Dias's assertion that her extended visa was denied, leading to her departure from India on April 19.
Avani Dias, the South Asia Bureau Chief of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), claimed that her reporting had crossed a line, resulting in her alleged denial of a visa extension by the Indian government. Dias contended that despite Australian Government intervention, she only received a two-month extension shortly before her departure, which coincided with the national elections in India. The journalist further alleged that her election license was withheld following a directive from the Indian Ministry, compelling her to leave the country on the first day of the elections.
However, sources from the Central government in India refuted Dias's claims, asserting that her allegations were inaccurate and misleading. They argued that Dias had breached visa regulations in her professional activities but was granted an extension for election coverage upon her request. Despite the journalist's visa being valid until April 20 with the fee paid on April 18, sources confirmed that her visa was extended until the end of June on the same day she made the payment. The government sources also contested Dias's assertion of being denied election coverage, labeling it as factually incorrect and stating that she voluntarily departed India on the same day with a valid visa and an approved extension in hand.