In response, Australia Today, the news organization that Canada banned for broadcasting External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s press conference, said on Friday that it is still resolute, unfazed, and dedicated to free speech and transparency. The organization emphasized its dedication to truthfulness and its right to cover important stories.
Jitarth Jai Bharadwaj, Managing Editor of The Australia Today, said in a statement, “We remain steadfast in our mission to bring important stories and voices to the public, undeterred by these obstacles.” He emphasized, “We will continue to strive for transparency, accuracy, and the right to tell stories that matter, and the overwhelming support we have received is a powerful reminder of the importance of free press.”
Hours after broadcasting External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s press conference in Australia, where he discussed the India-Canada diplomatic impasse and Khalistani extremism in Canada, Canada banned the outlet on Thursday. India reacted angrily, expressing surprise at Canada’s decision to ban the outlet and emphasizing that it exposed the nation’s hypocrisy regarding free speech.
According to the outlet, “Our team and those who value free and open journalism have found it difficult to deal with the recent restriction and ban on our interview with Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and the press conference with Australian Foreign Minister Senator Wong on social media, under orders from the Canadian government.”
“Despite these restrictions, your unwavering support has been a beacon of strength for us,” it said, acknowledging the “unwavering support” that was received following the ban. Every action made a difference, whether it was expressing concerns about press freedom, sharing our coverage on other platforms, or just providing encouragement.
The Ministry of External Affairs condemned Canada’s decision Thursday, saying, “We were taken aback. We find it odd.
“However, I will state that these acts once more expose Canada’s hypocrisy with regard to free speech. As you may have observed, the External Affairs Minister discussed three topics during his media appearances. One was Canada’s accusations, and a pattern emerged without any concrete proof. The second point he brought up was the monitoring of Indian diplomats in Canada, which he described as intolerable, according to External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal.
These events take place in the context of historically tense bilateral ties between Canada and India, which have recently soured as a result of Ottawa’s accusations that New Delhi was involved in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
