<p>Responding to media reports that said journalists too would have to obtain NOCs to travel to India, a spokesman for the Interior Ministry said the directive applied only to singers and artists travelling to India.<br /><br />Journalists are not required to seek NOCs from the Interior Ministry, the spokesman said.<br />NOCs will be issued only to singers and artists recommended by the Culture Ministry, he added.<br /><br />The move has outraged actors and theatre artists, who have said they will challenge it in the Supreme Court.<br /><br />Authorities introduced the measure close on the heels of the detention of singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan in India on charges of illegal possession of foreign currency.<br />The measure will come into effect from March 15.<br /><br />Khan was detained after he and members of his troupe were found to be carrying undeclared foreign currency worth 124,000 dollars.<br /><br />He was let off after he paid a fine of Rs 15 lakhs. The singer blamed the incident on his lack of knowledge of Indian customs laws.</p>
<p>Responding to media reports that said journalists too would have to obtain NOCs to travel to India, a spokesman for the Interior Ministry said the directive applied only to singers and artists travelling to India.<br /><br />Journalists are not required to seek NOCs from the Interior Ministry, the spokesman said.<br />NOCs will be issued only to singers and artists recommended by the Culture Ministry, he added.<br /><br />The move has outraged actors and theatre artists, who have said they will challenge it in the Supreme Court.<br /><br />Authorities introduced the measure close on the heels of the detention of singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan in India on charges of illegal possession of foreign currency.<br />The measure will come into effect from March 15.<br /><br />Khan was detained after he and members of his troupe were found to be carrying undeclared foreign currency worth 124,000 dollars.<br /><br />He was let off after he paid a fine of Rs 15 lakhs. The singer blamed the incident on his lack of knowledge of Indian customs laws.</p>