Canada accuses India of interfering in its elections, Center responds

India has refuted the claims and pledged not to interfere.

New Delhi:

Canada accuses India and Pakistan of interfering in its elections, a charge that India explicitly denies. Canada’s spy agency has released an unclassified summary that is part of a federal investigation examining potential foreign interference, alleging covert activities by India and Pakistan during the 2019 and 2021 elections. India called the investigation “baseless” and said Canada had been interfering in its internal affairs.

The Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) summary noted that India and Pakistan worked together to influence Canada’s electoral process. However, India has strongly denied the accusations as baseless and has turned its focus to what it sees as Canada’s interference in its internal affairs.

In 2021, the Indian government targeted specific constituencies believed to harbor Indian-origin voters sympathetic to the Khalistan movement or pro-Pakistan stance, the CSIS document said. The agency alleges that a government agent may have attempted to influence the democratic process by providing illegal financial support to favored candidates, possibly without disclosing this to the recipient.

Likewise, in 2019, Pakistani government officials allegedly engaged in clandestine activities designed to advance Pakistani interests in the Canadian political landscape.

While India has refuted the claims and pledged not to interfere in other countries’ democratic processes, Canada’s investigation into foreign interference has exacerbated already tense relations between the two countries.

foreign interference charges

In January, Canada announced its intention to investigate allegations of foreign interference in its national elections, with a particular focus on India, according to Bloomberg.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Randhir Jaiswal said in February: “We have seen media reports that a Canadian commission is investigating… We strongly reject all such allegations of Indian interference in Canadian elections. Baseless accusations.”

He added: “It is not the policy of the Indian government to interfere in the democratic processes of other countries. In fact, on the contrary, Canada has been interfering in our internal affairs.”

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau decided to launch a public inquiry after launching the process last year in response to leaked intelligence reports that China was trying to influence Canadian elections by supporting candidates sympathetic to President Xi Jinping’s regime. .

The appointed Ombudsman is tasked with investigating potential interference by various actors including India, China, Russia and other governmental and non-governmental entities during the 2019 and 2021 election cycles.

India and Canada relations

Trudeau previously accused India of involvement in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada, which has become a flashpoint in bilateral relations between the two countries.

While India denies the accusations as absurd, the fallout has had diplomatic repercussions, including a temporary suspension of visas to Canadians and a reduction in diplomatic presence.

In February, India, along with China and Russia, was designated a “foreign threat” by Canadian intelligence services, exacerbating diplomatic differences between the two countries.