Close X
Wednesday, November 13, 2024
ADVT 
India

EAM Jaishankar slams Canadian 'double standards'

Darpan News Desk IANS, 21 Oct, 2024 12:32 PM
  • EAM Jaishankar slams Canadian 'double standards'

New Delhi, Oct 21 (IANS) External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar on Monday slammed the "double standards" adopted by the Justin Trudeau-led government in Canada on the way it treats Indian envoys, and its expectations from New Delhi on Canadian diplomats' privileges.

Speaking on the topic, "The India Century - Diplomacy Redefined" at the two-day "NDTV World Summit 2024 - The India Century" event, EAM Jaishankar said: "The licence they give themselves is totally different from the restrictions they impose on diplomats in Canada."

Referring to the troubled relations with Canada in recent times, S. Jaishankar said Canada has a problem with Indian diplomats trying to find out about what is happening there in relation to India, "but the Canadian diplomat in India will have no problem with collecting information on our military or police, profiling people, targeting people to be stopped in Canada".

He also took a swipe at Ottawa for interpreting freedom of expression as per its own convenience.

When we tell them that there are people openly threatening leaders and diplomats of India, their answer is "freedom of speech", the External Affairs Minister said, slamming the Canadian government for saying that issuing threats to air carriers was part of freedom of speech.

Hinting that Canada's credibility was taking a hit due to its double speak on freedom of speech, the minister said the Canadian government can list out 20-25 Indian journalists saying they are interfering in my country because they have made social media posts and this is the same government that says threat to airlines is part of freedom of speech.

He also shared the example of an objection raised by Ottawa when an Indian journalist said in a post that the Canadian envoy walked out of the South Block looking very grumpy and Ottawa called it foreign interference.

"There are countries which feel your concerns don't matter. That's part of our politics. But if the slightest of thing happens to them, even if it is legitimate, they start jumping up and down," S. Jaishankar said.

Despite the diplomatic row, EAM Jaishankar said that India would like to maintain people-to-people relations with Canada even though New Delhi is having problems with a segment of politics in that country.

"I won't be so anxious on issues like about the safety of Indian families there," he said.

Earlier, in his first reaction after being withdrawn by New Delhi following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's continued "hostility" towards India, senior diplomat and High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma on Sunday termed the allegations levelled by Ottawa as "politically motivated" with no evidence whatsoever presented by the Canadian government of India's alleged involvement in last year's killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

"Nothing at all. No evidence was presented. Politically motivated," Verma told Canada's CTV ahead of his departure from the country.

India recently decided to withdraw its High Commissioner and "other targeted diplomats and officials" from Canada after the Trudeau government - in what was termed as "preposterous imputations" by New Delhi - suggested that the Indian High Commissioner and other diplomats are 'persons of interest' in a matter related to an investigation in the country.

 

MORE India ARTICLES

Gujarat man held for sending people abroad on fake passports, visas

Gujarat man held for sending people abroad on fake passports, visas
The Surat unit of the Special Operation Group (SOG) and Gujarat Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS) on Tuesday nabbed a person from Varachha area, alleged to be sending people abroad on fake passports and visas.

Gujarat man held for sending people abroad on fake passports, visas

AAP recognised my 'vision, work': Sidhu

AAP recognised my 'vision, work': Sidhu
Sidhu's tweets come amid his feud with Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh. However, Sidhu had earlier clarified that he has no plans to join AAP.

AAP recognised my 'vision, work': Sidhu

Kanpur is a major hub of terror activities, say ATS sources

Kanpur is a major hub of terror activities, say ATS sources
Investigations following the arrest of two alleged terrorists in Lucknow on Sunday, have revealed that Kanpur is a major hub of terror activities.

Kanpur is a major hub of terror activities, say ATS sources

Raj lightning: PM announces Rs 2L ex-gratia to kin of those who died

Raj lightning: PM announces Rs 2L ex-gratia to kin of those who died
Lightning created havoc on late Sunday evening when at least 22 people including 9 children died after they were struck by lightning.

Raj lightning: PM announces Rs 2L ex-gratia to kin of those who died

Punjab withdraws all power restrictions on industry

Punjab withdraws all power restrictions on industry
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Monday evening ordered withdrawal of all power regulatory restrictions that were imposed on industries across the state to meet the power crisis.

Punjab withdraws all power restrictions on industry

Punjab lifts weekend, night curfew; opens bars, cinema halls

Punjab lifts weekend, night curfew; opens bars, cinema halls
The Chief Minister also ordered opening of bars, cinema halls, restaurants, spas, swimming pools, gyms, malls, sports complexes, museums, zoos, etc., subject to all eligible staff members and visitors having taken at least one dose each of the vaccine.

Punjab lifts weekend, night curfew; opens bars, cinema halls