India upset with NHK bureau chief, won't renew his visa

NEW DELHI--The Indian government has refused to renew the working visa for Japan Broadcasting Corp.'s (NHK) New Delhi bureau chief, citing inappropriate content in some of the station's documentary programs.

Shogo Takahashi, 46, departed the country on Sunday, an NHK spokesperson said, adding that the broadcaster is surprised at the Indian government's abrupt treatment.

According to NHK, Takahashi applied for an extension of his working visa, but India's foreign ministry denied his request in June.

Takahashi had been the bureau chief for about two years since 2008. Programs that he contributed to include the documentary series "Indo no Shogeki" (The impact of India), which was broadcast from 2007 to 2009.

An official at the Indian Ministry of External Affairs said that the content of certain documentaries was inappropriate and that an extension of Takahashi's visa is "not convenient for the interest of India."