The news outlet Australia Today, which was banned by Canada for broadcasting External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar's press conference, responded on Friday, saying it remains committed and unfazed. The outlet emphasised its dedication to transparency, accuracy, and the right to report important stories.

Jitarth Jai Bharadwaj, Managing Editor of The Australia Today, said in a statement, "We remain steadfast in our mission to bring important stories and voices to the public, undeterred by these obstacles." He stated, "The overwhelming support we have received is a powerful reminder of the importance of free press, and we will continue to strive for transparency, accuracy, and the right to tell stories that matter"

Canada banned the outlet on Thursday after it broadcasted S Jaishankar’s press conference in Australia during which he commented on the India-Canada diplomatic rift. He also remarked on the Khalistani extremism in Canada. However, India came up with a rather strong reply stating that the very move by the Canadian government has amazed it. India also called out Canada's hypocrisy pertaining to freedom of speech. 

The publication stated, "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 expressed gratitude for the "unwavering support" that it received following the ban and stated, "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". 

The Ministry of External Affairs condemned Canada's decision Thursday, remarking, "We were surprised. It looks strange to us". External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "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."

The aforementioned developments take place in the context of historically tense bilateral relations between Canada and India, which have recently gotten worse after Ottawa accused New Delhi of being involved in the murder of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.