2024-11-08 02:28:42
Australia Today, the news outlet banned by Canada for airing External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s press conference, responded on Friday, stating that it remains steadfast and undeterred. The organisation emphasised its commitment to transparency, accuracy, and the right to report stories that matter.
“We remain steadfast in our mission to bring important stories and voices to the public, undeterred by these obstacles,” Jitarth Jai Bharadwaj, Managing Editor of The Australia Today said in a statement. He stressed, “The overwhelming support we have received is a powerful reminder of the importance of freepress, and we will continue to strive for transparency, accuracy, and the right to tell 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 gave remarks on the India-Canada diplomatic standoff and Khalistani extremism in Canada. India responded sharply, saying it was surprised by Canada’s move to ban the outlet and stressed that it highlighted the country’s hypocrisy towards freedom of speech.
The outlet said, “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, have been difficult for our team and those who 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 beacon of strength for us. Whether it was sharing our coverage on other platforms, voicing concerns about Press Freedom, or simply offering encouragement, every action made a difference”.
Condemning the decision by Canada, the Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday said, “We were surprised. It looks strange to us”.
“But, nonetheless, what I will say is that these are actions which yet again highlight the hypocrisy of Canada towards freedom of speech. You would have seen that the External Affairs Minister, in his media engagements, spoke about three things. One was Canada making allegations and a pattern had developed without any specific evidence. The second thing he highlighted was surveillance of Indian diplomats happening in Canada, which he termed as unacceptable,” External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.
