Montreal/New Delhi, Sep 2 - Media watchdog Reporters Without Borders has asked the Indian government to issue a press visa to German journalist Hasnain Kazim to report for Der Spiegel weekly. But Indian government sources said the journalist was guilty of 'gross violation of visa norms' and had 'misused' his visa during his previous visit.

In a statement, the media body said Indian diplomats in Germany had told German officials that his visa request five months ago had been denied because his articles were regarded as 'overly critical and biased'.

The Indian-origin journalist, who has worked with the German magazine since February 2006, had visited India in November to cover the Mumbai terrorist attacks. His articles won him a nomination for the CNN Journalists Award 2009.

Kazim submitted his press visa application to the Indian consulate in Hamburg in April to be based in New Delhi as the South Asia correspondent for the online section of the German magazine.

'We are dismayed to learn that the Indian authorities have again refused to issue a press visa to a journalist employed by a respected news organisation,' Reporters Without Borders said.

'Excuses have been made about the time needed to process an application but the reality is that the Indian government has not liked some of this experienced journalist's reports and wants to prevent him from returning to India.

'There is an urgent need for the government to scrap this archaic practice of banning certain foreign journalists from visiting the country. Dozens of journalists have encountered this problem of late,' the Montreal-based media freedom body said.