Canada Blocks Australian News Outlet Covering Jaishankar’s Press Conference

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday condemned the Canadian government for “hypocrisy towards freedom of speech,” after Canada reportedly blocked social media pages and handles of the Australian diaspora news outlet Australia Today. This move came shortly after the outlet broadcast Indian External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar’s press conference in Canberra alongside his Australian counterpart, Penny Wong.

The MEA highlighted that Jaishankar, in his media address, had openly criticized Canada for making unsubstantiated allegations against India, conducting “unacceptable surveillance” of Indian diplomats, and providing political space for anti-India elements. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal addressed the weekly briefing, stating, “We understand that the social media handles, pages of this particular outlet, which is an important diaspora outlet, have been blocked and are not available for viewers in Canada. This happened just hours after the outlet broadcasted Dr. S. Jaishankar’s press conference with Penny Wong. It appears quite strange to us.”

Jaiswal further described these actions as indicative of Canada’s “hypocrisy toward freedom of speech,” adding that people could draw their own conclusions regarding the timing of the channel’s blocking.

Jaishankar’s Australia Visit and Security Concerns Addressed with Wong

Jaiswal also elaborated on Jaishankar’s ongoing visit to Australia, noting that the minister met with the Australian business community and attended the 15th India-Australia Framework Dialogue with Wong. Security concerns and bilateral issues were central topics during the discussions.

Concerns over Hindu Temple Attack and Security of Indian Consulate

Jaiswal brought attention to the recent attack on the Hindu Sabha Mandir in Brampton on November 3, calling on the Canadian government to uphold the rule of law. He also expressed disappointment over the Canadian security authorities’ inability to assure adequate protection to the Indian consulate in Toronto, which led to the cancellation of scheduled consular camps.

“The consulate camp was intended to assist the Indian diaspora, especially those needing documentation for pensions and other activities,” he said. Jaiswal confirmed that while consular camps in Toronto had been canceled due to security concerns, they would continue in other regions, such as Vancouver, where community organizations felt assured of safety.