A day after the BJP-led NDA won the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) News journalist Avani Dias spread canards about the Indian constitution on Wednesday, June 5th. Dias, who had previously lied about her visa being canceled by the Modi government due to ‘critical reporting,’ claimed that ‘secularism’ had been part of the Indian constitution since the country gained independence from British rule in 1947.
ABC News ‘journalist’ Avani Dias | NDTV
In a video titled ‘The story behind India’s Narendra Modi,’ Dias aimed to portray that India’s secularism was somehow under threat under PM Modi's leadership.
Avani Dias Alleges Falsehoods About India's Constitution
In a controversial video released post the BJP-led NDA's 2024 Lok Sabha victory, ABC News journalist Avani Dias alleged that India's constitution, drafted in 1947 upon independence from British rule, explicitly declared the country as secular. Dias claimed that the term 'secular' was prominently featured on page 33 of the constitution. However, these assertions are factually inaccurate. India's constitution was actually adopted in 1950, and the term 'secular' was not included in its original form. It was only in 1976, during the tenure of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, that the term 'secular' was added to the Preamble through the controversial 42nd Constitutional Amendment, bypassing the parliamentary process.
Controversy surrounding Avani Dias
In the past, ABC News journalist Avani Dias stirred controversy in April when she claimed on X (formerly Twitter) that the Modi government abruptly refused to extend her visa, forcing her to leave India. Dias alleged her visa was reluctantly extended for two months just before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, after concerns about her accreditation arose. ABC News later reported that Dias received a call from India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), informing her of the visa denial. This followed Dias' controversial YouTube video titled 'Sikhs, Spies and Murder: Investigating India’s alleged hit on foreign soil,' which suggested Indian involvement in the assassination of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
Modi Government Blocks ABC News Video on National Security Grounds
The Modi government took a firm stance by instructing YouTube to block an anti-India video created by ABC News and its South Asia Bureau Chief Avani Dias. The video, titled 'Sikhs, Spies and Murder: Investigating India’s alleged hit on foreign soil,' has been restricted within India due to concerns related to national security and public order.
The journalist had assumed favorable treatment from the Indian government, despite her provocative content stirring international discord. Dias also took to X (formerly Twitter), portraying herself as a victim and questioning India's democratic values under the Modi administration.
She falsely claimed her visa extension was denied by the Modi government, only to later return to Australia for personal reasons, including her wedding and a new job. Despite these revelations, Dias continues her role as ABC News' Four Corners correspondent, drawing criticism for her provocative reporting tactics.
Controversies Surrounding Avani Dias' Journalism at ABC News
Avani Dias, ABC News' South Asia Bureau Chief, remains embroiled in controversy for her contentious reporting. Dias has previously stirred controversy by insinuating Hindu involvement in the vandalism of the Shree Laxmi Narayan Temple in Brisbane and labeling the Pran Prathistha ceremony at Ram Mandir as a 'Hindu supremacist' event. Her support for religious attire in government schools and criticisms of Indian policies such as the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021 in Uttar Pradesh, have further fueled debate about her journalistic integrity.
Comments