Voting is going to take place on April 26 under the second phase of Lok Sabha elections in India. Meanwhile, an Australian journalist claimed that he was not permitted to cover the elections in India, after which he was forced to leave the country. But this claim of the journalist has been called wrong and misleading by official sources related to the Government of India.

Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) South Asia Bureau Chief Avani Dias left India on 20 April. He claims that the Indian government did not extend the period of his visa, due to which he had to leave India a day after the first phase of voting in the Lok Sabha elections. She could not report on Indian elections. 

Avni said that an official of the Indian Foreign Ministry called her and told her that her visa period was not being extended. The reason given for this was that his recent episode of 'Foreign Correspondent' on YouTube crossed all limits. However, Indian government sources say that Avni was found to have violated visa norms during her professional activities, yet her visa period was extended on her request for election coverage. 

Sources said that Dias's visa had expired on April 20 and he had paid the visa fees only till April 18. But later the duration of his visa was extended till the end of June on the same day.

Sources say that but Dias had decided to leave India on 2 April. But at the time he left India, his visa was valid and extension of an his visa had been approved. His claim of not giving permission to cover the elections is also completely wrong. 
Sources say that all visa holders have permission to cover the elections outside the polling booth. Authorization letter is necessary for reporting at polling booths and counting stations. It should also be noted that ACB's other correspondents Meghna Bali and Som Patidar had already received letters regarding election coverage.