Trudeau Orders Facebook to Block Australian Presser Video

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau prohibited news source Australia Today from airing External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s joint press conference with his Australian colleague Penny Wong over the Attacks on Hindu Temples in Canada.

The move left the Australian news outlet perplexed and astonished the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, which condemned Canada’s attempt to silence varied viewpoints.

Jitarth Jai Bharadwaj, Editor-in-Chief of Australia Today, described Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government’s conduct as “dictatorial”. Bharadwaj said his group was still investigating why the video was blocked in Canada.

Bharadwaj stated that the Indian diaspora in Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States is Australia Today’s primary target demographic. The news platform focuses on stories regarding the Indian diaspora and ethnic communities.

On Friday morning, Australia Today shared footage from Wong and Jaishankar’s joint news appearance, during which the diplomats discussed the precarious plight of Indians and their diplomats in Canada.

Around four hours later, the source also posted a seven-minute interview clip with Jaishankar, in which the Indian external affairs minister stated that surveillance of Indian diplomats in Canada is “unacceptable”.

Shortly after their release, both the press conference tape and the interview became inaccessible in Canada, and many people shared images of the restricted message on Facebook.

The Indian foreign ministry slammed the move as the Trudeau government’s “hypocrisy” over free expression.

“We hear that the social media handles and pages of this particular source, a major diaspora outlet, have been blocked and are inaccessible to readers in Canada.

This occurred shortly after this handle covered EAM Dr. S Jaishankar’s press appearance with Penny Wong. We were startled. “It appears strange to us,” MEA spokeswoman Randhir Jaiswal stated.

While recounting the entire scenario, Bhardwaj expressed surprise that people in Canada could not see the recordings.

“They began providing screenshots with us demonstrating that this content is not available for viewing in Canada due to a government order. What had transpired caught me off guard.

So I inquired about other cities across Canada where we have friends or are following, and everyone stated they couldn’t view it. And that’s how we found out. Bhardwaj informed Firstpost News on Friday.

He recalled that the two films first appeared in Canada and quickly went viral. Bhardwaj further stated that the videos elicited strong reactions from Indians in Canada before their suspension.

“It appears like the Canadian government is clamping down on the press. As of now, they have not lifted the prohibition or restriction, whatever you want to call it,” he stated.

When asked if the news organization had contacted the Canadian government to express its concern, Bharadwaj replied that an email had been sent to the Canadian Ministry of Communication.

“They haven’t responded to our email, which we wrote to the Canadian Ministry of Communication about this section ban, asking why it has been placed since diverse views have a place in a democracy,” he told me.

Bharadwaj expressed his disgust and bewilderment over the situation, saying, “It looks like Justin Trudeau and his government are behaving like dictators.”

Trudeau is a Dictator

He further stated that Meta informed the Australian site that the “restriction was imposed under the Canadian government’s direction,” implying that the Trudeau administration objected to the content of the video in which Jaishankar explained India’s perspective on the ongoing issues.

“The Indian diaspora is suffering as a result of the actions of the Canadian government.”

When asked about the impact of such restrictions on the Indian diaspora’s access to information, Bhardwaj stated, “The Indian diaspora in Canada is certainly suffering because of the behaviour and acts of the Canadian government.”

“Every hour, they repeat the Western democracy charter, which states that every citizen has the right to free information to make educated decisions regarding political, social, cultural, or religious problems, as well as any other decision they wish to make. “It has to be an informed decision,” Bhardwaj declared.

“The free press and media are two means for providing that knowledge so people can make informed decisions. “The Canadian government does not want its citizens to hear diverse or critical views,” he told FirstPost.

While emphasizing that they are still looking for explanations as to why the films were prohibited in Canada, Bhradwaj suggested that the Trudeau government may not be open to hearing critical viewpoints.

He explained, “I have no idea why they made the decision. However, it appears that they dislike any minister from India or Australia who is critical of them.

I mean, there was a simple question asked in the press conference by me, how do you react to attacks on Canadian Hindus by Khalistani groups or Hindu temples in Canada?”

The Australia-based journalist said that Wong had spoken about Canberra’s concerns. “It’s unparalleled.

Trudeau Selectively Uses Freedom of Speech.

If you get provoked by a few ministers of different countries criticizing your actions or non-actions, then it’s on them that they have to learn a few things about politics, diplomacy and press freedom,” he said.

The ‘Canadian government has been selectively using freedom of speech.’

One of the core arguments put forth by the Trudeau administration to defend their alleged support of the pro-Khalistani movement in the country is that they are ensuring freedom of speech.

When asked about Canada’s stance on the matter, Bharadwaj said that the “Canadian government has been selectively using freedom of speech” to further its political agenda.

He mentioned two situations. One of them involved Pro-Khalistani terrorist Gurpurwat Singh Pannun threatening Australia Today journalists.

“Sikh for Justice’s Gurpurwat Singh Pannun made a video with the photographs of my team, our editors and gestured like this, a gunshot and said, fix these people in Punjabi. Canada did nothing,” he told Firstpost.

“We have complained to Canada that Mr Pannun has been doing this and inciting hate or violence towards us, but they haven’t done anything. What kind of government are they? What kind of press protecting Western democracy do they claim to be,” he asked.

Bharadwaj also recalled how the Trudeau administration cracked down on trucker strikes in the country a couple of years ago.

“Two years back when truck strikes were happening on the roads of Canada, they clamped down on Canadian citizens disregarding freedom of speech, disregarding [their] right to protest,” Bharadwaj said.

“They also blocked their financial bank accounts. So, these truckers had to go back to their places, stopping their protest. If that is not hypocrisy, what it is, I can’t say more,” he said.

Bharadwaj emphasized that the Indian and Canadian governments need to resolve their issues. “Canada cannot ignore the way it is ignoring the Khalistani, pro-Khalistani groups who are threatening violence, who are attacking Hindu temples, who are even threatening the press,” he said.

With the Canadian elections on the horizon, Bharadwaj said, “Things probably won’t change much until Trudeau is at the helm of things in Canada.”
Trudeau has been under immense political pressure back home after the New Democratic Party broke its alliance with his Liberal Party, bringing the government to a minority in the Canadian parliament.

Trudeau has survived two trust votes, and Canada observers say he may not get another term with the election due next year.