India's External Affairs Minister Slams Canada's Approach to Freedom of Speech Amid Strain

| 30 September 2023 | Christie Anto

Washington, D.C., USA - India's External Affairs Minister, Dr. S Jaishankar, has weighed in on the escalating diplomatic tensions between India and Canada, expressing concerns over Canada's stance on freedom of speech and its permissiveness towards terrorism, extremism, and violence. Speaking during his official visit to Washington D.C., Jaishankar highlighted the need for dialogue to resolve the ongoing disputes between the two nations.

In a press conference held on Saturday, Jaishankar addressed the issue head-on, stating, "Look, we are a democracy. We don't need to learn from others what freedom of speech is about. We don't think freedom of speech extends to incitement of violence. That to us is misuse of freedom, not defense of freedom." He emphasized that India's democratic values and commitment to freedom of speech did not extend to tolerating violence or acts of terrorism.

The External Affairs Minister's comments were prompted by recent incidents, including an attack on the Indian Consulate in San Francisco and the appearance of Khalistani threat posters in Canada featuring the names of Indian diplomats. These incidents have added fuel to the already strained relations between India and Canada.

"What would you do if you were in my shoes? If it was your embassies, your diplomats, your people, what would be your reaction?" Jaishankar questioned, underscoring the gravity of the situation.

The tension between the two nations was further exacerbated by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's allegations of Indian government involvement in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Jaishankar acknowledged the need for dialogue to resolve these differences, revealing that he had discussed the diplomatic row with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan.

While expressing a willingness to examine the evidence supporting Canada's allegations, Jaishankar reiterated the importance of not treating the incident in isolation. "If they are prepared to share with us specifics (of their allegations) and any relevant information, we are also open to looking at it, but what we do not want to see is an incident treated in isolation as it doesn't convey the right picture," he stated.

Jaishankar also drew attention to the outstanding extradition requests that Canada has yet to respond to, involving individuals and organizations allegedly involved in violence and illegal activities in India.

"We have had an ongoing problem with Canada and the Canadian government for some years now. The ongoing problem really revolves around the permissiveness to terrorism, extremism, and violence. This permissiveness is also reflected in the fact that some important extradition requests have not been responded to from their side," he emphasized.

Highlighting concerns over Canada harboring extremists and separatists, Jaishankar urged against normalizing the situation, stating, "Let's not normalize what is happening in Canada. It is important to call out what is happening there." He urged the media to consider how the world would react if similar incidents were occurring in a different country.

Furthermore, Jaishankar raised serious concerns about the safety of Indian diplomats in Canada. He revealed that they face intimidation and violence when going to the embassy or consulate, which led to the temporary suspension of visa operations in Canada. "The fact that our diplomatic missions and our diplomatic personnel have been consistently and continuously intimidated in Canada to a point where today it is not safe for them really to carry on with their work," he explained.

In response to these developments, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed hope that the issues between Canada and India would be resolved through diplomatic means.

Dr. S Jaishankar's visit to Washington D.C. represents the highest-level interaction between India and the United States since the recent G-20 Summit held in New Delhi. As diplomatic efforts continue, the international community will be closely watching for signs of progress in defusing the tensions between India and Canada.