Summary:
- Canada has blocked the social media pages of Australia Today, an outlet for the Indian community, after it aired a press conference by India’s External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar.
- India expressed surprise and questioned Canada’s commitment to freedom of speech, criticizing the action as hypocritical.
- Jaishankar had addressed Canada’s allegations against India, surveillance of Indian diplomats, and political space granted to anti-India elements in Canada.
What Led to This Ban?
The ban was imposed shortly after Australia Today aired Jaishankar’s joint press conference with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong in Sydney. During the conference, Jaishankar addressed the India-Canada diplomatic tensions, asserting that Canada had made unsubstantiated claims against India. He also condemned the alleged surveillance of Indian diplomats in Canada and pointed to the political freedom provided to anti-India groups in Canada.
Following the ban, India’s Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal expressed surprise at Canada’s decision to restrict Australia Today‘s presence on social media, stating it underscored Ottawa’s hypocrisy regarding free speech. Jaiswal highlighted Jaishankar’s points on Canada’s recent behavior, suggesting that the ban might reflect Canada’s discomfort with India’s stance on these issues.
The Diplomatic Implications
The incident comes amid an ongoing diplomatic standoff between India and Canada, underscoring heightened tensions between the two countries. Canada’s decision has raised concerns about its stance on freedom of the press, while India’s reaction signals its disapproval of Canada’s handling of Indian diplomatic interests. The ban is expected to fuel further scrutiny of Canada’s foreign policy actions concerning India, intensifying a complex diplomatic relationship.
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