French journalist Vanessa Dougnac said that she had to leave India not by her choice, but was “being forced to leave by the Government of India”.

She was issued a notice last month by the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO), which operates under the Union Home Ministry, accusing her of “malicious” reporting and sought an explanation on why her Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) status should not be cancelled for alleged violation of rules.

“Last month, I was sent a notice that accused me and my articles of being ‘malicious’, of harming ‘the interests of the sovereignty and integrity of India’ and required me to respond to why my OCI card should not be cancelled. The notice further claimed that my articles could ‘provoke disorder and disturb peace’,” Dougnac, former South Asia Correspondent for French publications La Croix and Le Point, Swiss newspaper Le Temps and Belgian daily Le Soir, said in a statement on Friday evening, reports The Indian Express.

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“Today, I am leaving India, the country where I came 25 years ago as a student, and where I have worked for 23 years as a journalist. The place where I married, raised my son, and which I call my home,” she added.

The journalist alleged that the Ministry of Home Affairs “denied” her right to work as a journalist, “providing no reasons nor justifications, and no hearing.”

She also added that the Ministry has not responded to “her repeated requests”, and added that she has been “unfairly accused of prejudicing the interests of the state”.

“The proceedings with respect to my OCI status have shattered me, especially now that I see them as part of a wider effort by the Government of India to curb dissent from the OCI community,” Dougnac said.

Her matter was also raised by France with India President Emmanuel Macron’s visit last month, when he was the guest of Honour for this year’s Republic Day.

India had conveyed to the French side that the issue was about “compliance with the rules and regulations of the country.”

The BJP-led government has cancelled at least 102 Overseas Citizen of India cards between 2014-May 2023, according to a report by Article 14. Over 45 lakh people hold Overseas Citizen of India cards.