Australia Today, news outlet Canada bans telecast of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s press conferenceresponded on Friday, saying it was firm and unwavering and committed to transparency and a free press. The organization stressed its commitment to accuracy and the right to report important stories.
“We remain steadfast in our mission to bring important stories and voices to the public, regardless of these constraints,” The Australia Today managing editor Jitarth Jai Bhardwaj said in a statement. he insisted, “The overwhelming support we have received is a powerful reminder of the importance of a free press, and we will continue to strive for transparency, accuracy and the right to tell the stories that matter.”
On Thursday, Canada banned the outlet hours after it aired External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s press conference in Australia, where he commented on the India-Canada diplomatic standoff and Khalistani insurgency in Canada. India reacted sharply, saying it was surprised by Canada’s move to ban the outlet and asserted that it exposed the country’s hypocrisy towards freedom of expression.
The outlet said, “Recent restrictions and bans, under orders from the Canadian government, on our interview with Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar and press conference with Australian Foreign Minister Senator Wong on social media, made it difficult for our team and those Is.” Value free and open journalism”.
It acknowledged the “unwavering support” received after the ban and said, “Despite these restrictions, your unwavering support has been a symbol of strength for us. Whether it’s sharing our coverage on other platforms, it’s about freedom of the press. Whether expressing concern, or simply offering encouragement, every action made a difference”.
The Foreign Ministry on Thursday condemned Canada’s decision, saying, “We were surprised. We find this strange.”
“But, still, what I would say is that these are actions that again expose Canada’s hypocrisy towards freedom of expression. You may have noticed that the foreign minister has talked about three things in his media appearances. One was Canada making allegations without any specific evidence and the other thing he highlighted was the surveillance of Indian diplomats, which he called unacceptable.
The developments come amid historically strained bilateral relations between India and Canada, which have recently deteriorated following Ottawa’s allegations of New Delhi’s involvement in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.