On Thursday, amid the diplomatic row between India and Canada, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) disclosed that Canada had banned an Australian news outlet within Canada for broadcasting an interview with India’s External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar. The interview was essentially a discussion between EAM S. Jaishankar and Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong. The news outlet, Australia Today, is a significant platform for the Australian-Indian diaspora.
“We were surprised,” says MEA spokesperson
At a press conference today, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal expressed the ministry’s surprise, stating, “We understand that the social media handles and pages of this particular outlet, which is an important diaspora platform, have been blocked and are not available to viewers in Canada. This happened just an hour or few hours after this particular handle carried the press conference of EAM Dr. S. Jaishankar with Penny Wong… We were surprised.”
MEA Highlights Canada’s Hypocrisy
Commenting further, Jaiswal remarked, “It seems strange to us. But nonetheless, I will say that these actions once again highlight Canada’s hypocrisy regarding freedom of speech. In his media engagements, EAM addressed three key points. First, he noted Canada’s pattern of making allegations without presenting specific evidence. Second, he emphasized the surveillance of Indian diplomats in Canada, which he termed unacceptable. Third, he highlighted the political space Canada has given to anti-India elements. So you can draw your conclusions on why Australia Today was blocked in Canada,” he added.
Here’s What Else You Need to Know
Canada’s decision to ban a media outlet for broadcasting the interview of India’s MEA has shocked many across India, as Canada—and Western nations in general—often advocate for freedom of expression. In the name of free speech, Canada has allowed the spread of speech inciting hatred against Indians and has provided a haven for extremists. It remains to be seen how this latest development will impact relations between the two nations.
