Justin Trudeau

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has criticized Canada for blocking the social media presence of Australian media outlet Australia Today, shortly after it aired a press conference between India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong. The MEA claims this action contradicts Canada’s stance on freedom of speech and reveals a pattern of hypocrisy in the handling of anti-India narratives. During the media briefing, MEA spokesman Randhir Jaiswal highlighted the unexpected censorship imposed by Canada on the social media handles of Australia Today, an outlet that holds significance among the Indian diaspora. “This occurred mere hours after the outlet covered Dr. Jaishankar’s remarks, including statements on Canada’s unsubstantiated accusations against India,” Jaiswal said. He described the block as “strange,” further noting that it aligns with what India sees as a recurrent pattern in Canada’s approach to press freedom and anti-India activities. India’s statement also referenced the larger context of deteriorating India-Canada relations, strained significantly by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s September 2023 allegations. Trudeau suggested potential involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, claims that New Delhi dismissed as “absurd.” India has reiterated that its primary issue with Canada stems from the alleged tolerance of pro-Khalistan elements on Canadian soil, which operate openly and undermine India’s sovereignty. The diplomatic tension escalated further after a recent protest at Brampton’s Hindu Sabha temple, where demonstrators reportedly clashed with attendees, showcasing pro-Khalistan banners. Canada’s response to these protests, coupled with the recent censorship, has amplified concerns about the treatment of Indian diaspora media and safety in Canada. Source: Economic Times Photo Credit: Economic Times