New Delhi, November 8, 2024: Former Indian diplomat KP Fabian has condemned Canada’s surveillance of Indian diplomats, labeling it as “completely wrong” and a violation of privacy rights. Fabian emphasized that privacy is a universal right, stating that surveillance should only occur if there is evidence of wrongdoing or an ongoing investigation.
In a statement, Fabian said, “Canada itself confirmed that certain consular officials are under surveillance. This is completely wrong on Canada’s part. Privacy is a right for everyone unless there is an offence. If an Indian official had committed something wrong, Canada should inform us rather than resorting to surveillance.”
Fabian also criticized what he called Canada’s “tit-for-tat” escalation, which he believes harms both countries. “The Canadian government, led by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, seems determined to escalate. That doesn’t mean India should cooperate in this escalation,” he remarked, suggesting that India should carefully consider its responses.
MEA Condemns Surveillance and Media Blocking
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal echoed Fabian’s sentiments, calling the surveillance “totally unacceptable.” Jaiswal highlighted increasing threats against Indian diplomats in Canada, with cases of harassment, intimidation, and surveillance rising notably in the past year.
“Indian diplomats are under surveillance in Canada, which is unacceptable. We have taken up the matter strongly with Canadian officials,” Jaiswal stated during a Thursday briefing.
Criticism of Canadian Media Coverage
Fabian also pointed to a lack of Canadian media coverage regarding the recent blocking of the Australia Today outlet by Canadian authorities. Fabian questioned Canada’s commitment to freedom of expression, noting, “Canada speaks of freedom of expression but then bans media outlets critical of their actions. I checked leading Canadian media like The Globe and Mail and CBC News, but found no mention of this incident.”
Earlier, the MEA had condemned Canada’s “hypocrisy” toward free speech after Canadian authorities blocked the social media accounts of Australia Today, an outlet covering diaspora issues. Jaiswal commented that the block was enforced shortly after Australia Today shared a press conference between India’s External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar and Australia’s Penny Wong.
“We were surprised,” Jaiswal stated. “This appears unusual and sends conflicting messages about Canada’s commitment to freedom of speech.”
With diplomatic tensions rising, India has voiced concerns over Canada’s handling of diplomatic privacy and free speech issues, urging Canada to uphold international norms of diplomatic respect and freedom of expression.
