Canada's move against Australian outlet that interviewed S. Jaishankar criticized by India

Canada's move against Australian, criticized by India: India reacts sharply to reports of Australian news outlet’s social media handles and pages being blocked in Canada hours after it carried press conference of EAM Jaishankar and Australian FM Penny Wong and interview of Indian minister. Says it shows Canada’s double standards on free speech.

Jaishankar met Australian PM Anthony Albanese and co-chaired 15th Foreign Ministers’ Framework Dialogue with FM Wong during his Australia visit which ends on Thursday.

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When asked about Australia Today’s social media handles being blocked in Canada, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on Thursday, "We understand that social media handles and pages of this outlet, which is an important diaspora outlet, have been blocked and are not available for viewers in Canada. This happened a few hours after this particular handle carried the press conference of the External Affairs Minister with Penny Wong."

The outlet had carried an interview of Jaishankar and several articles on his visit, Mr Jaiswal added, "We were surprised. It looks strange to us. But, nonetheless, these are actions that yet again highlight the hypocrisy of Canada towards freedom of speech. In his media interactions, the External Affairs Minister spoke about three things: a pattern of Canada making allegations without evidence, the surveillance of Indian diplomats - which he termed unacceptable - and the political space being given in Canada to anti-India elements. So you can draw your conclusions from that on why the Australia Today channel was blocked."

Last week, India had said some of its consular officials were informed by the Canadian government that they have been under audio and video surveillance. India had term it as “flagrant violation” of diplomatic conventions. India said Canada can’t hide behind technicalities to justify its harassment and intimidation and a protest was lodged with the Canadian government.

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Mr Jaiswal also said some consular camps have been cancelled in Toronto as they didn’t get security assurance from Canada. The announcement came days after the attack on a Hindu temple in Brampton where a consular camp was being held on November 3. PM Narendra Modi had also condemned the attack and called it “cowardly attempts” to intimidate Indian diplomats in Canada.

India-Canada ties have been strained since Canadian PM Justin Trudeau claimed without any evidence last year that “Indian agents” were involved in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India has rubbished the claim several times and has asked Canada to produce evidence to back it up.

It hit a new low last month when the Indian High Commissioner was called a “person of interest”. India called it “ludicrous” and withdrew the High Commissioner and some diplomats and expelled six Canadian officials including Canada’s acting High Commissioner Stewart Ross Wheeler.

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