The Canadian government has come under fire after blocking access to video clips from Australia Today, featuring a joint press conference by Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong. The coverage, which discussed the experiences of Indian diplomats and citizens in Canada, was suddenly made inaccessible to Canadian viewers shortly after it was posted. This move has sparked criticism of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, with Australia Today Editor-in-Chief Jitarth Jai Bharadwaj accusing the Trudeau administration of suppressing free speech and behaving “like a dictator.”
The videos, initially viewable in Canada, gained significant traction among the Indian diaspora before being restricted by Meta, reportedly on Canadian government orders. This act of censorship has been met with surprise and condemnation from both Australia Today and the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), which called Canada’s restriction “hypocritical,” given the country’s stance on free speech. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal expressed bewilderment over the timing of the ban, noting that the outlet serves as an essential source of news for the Indian diaspora globally.
In an interview with Firstpost, Bharadwaj recounted the sudden restriction, stating that Australia Today had sent inquiries to Canadian authorities but received no response. He emphasized the impact on the Indian community in Canada, which relies on diverse news sources to make informed decisions. Bharadwaj also pointed out perceived inconsistencies in Canada’s stance on free speech, mentioning past government actions, including the crackdown on trucker protests in Canada two years ago, which included blocking participants’ bank accounts to end the protests.
The Australian editor highlighted how the Canadian government has previously dismissed concerns raised about threats by pro-Khalistani groups, including direct threats against Australia Today staff by Sikh for Justice’s Gurpurwat Singh Pannun. Bharadwaj argued that Canada’s selective approach to free speech is affecting the Indian diaspora’s access to information on critical issues, and he expressed doubts about change under Trudeau’s leadership.
With Canadian elections approaching and increasing pressure from opposition parties, Trudeau’s government faces mounting scrutiny over its handling of international relations and its approach to free speech. Bharadwaj stressed that the situation will likely persist without political changes in Canada, as the current administration appears resistant to critical perspectives on its policies, especially those concerning Indian-Canadian diplomatic relations.
