Canada situation should not be regarded as normal: Jaishankar
Jaishankar has said, citing violence in front of the Indian missions and intimidation of Indian diplomats there.
Addressing a press meet in Washington, the minister also said India does not require lessons from others on the concept of freedom of speech.
«Our point is that today there is a climate of violence, an atmosphere of intimidation… Just think about it, we have had smoke bombs thrown at the mission, we have had our consulates...violence in front of them, individuals have been targeted and intimidated, there are posters put up about people...,» he said.
All this forced the country to temporarily suspend visa operations in Canada. «It's not something we would have liked to do.
It is just that they made it very difficult for us to operate those services,» the minister said.
«Let's not normalise what is happening in Canada,» he said. «What is happening in Canada, had it happened anywhere else, do you think the world would've taken it with equanimity?»
Freedom of expression should not extend to incitement of violence, he said.
«I flagged here (in the US), and I flagged this to the Canadians as well,» the minister said.
«We are a democracy. We don't need to learn from other people what freedom of speech is about.
But we can tell people this — we don't think freedom of speech extends to incitement to violence. That, to us, is the misuse of freedom...that's not defence of freedom.»
Jaishankar asked if any other country's diplomats faced the same situation, how would have they reacted to it? «I think it's a reasonable question to ask… How would you react if you were in my shoes? If it was your diplomats, your embassy, your people, what would be your reaction?»
It is important that the US has India's point of view
