Investigation finds India did not interfere in 2021 Canadian elections

A Canadian bureaucratic panel concluded on Wednesday that India did not interfere in Canada’s 2021 elections. The announcement comes days after the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) submitted unclassified documents to the Foreign Interference Committee, which is examining possible election interference by foreign actors.

The report claims India and Pakistan try to interfere in Canadian election This happens in 2019 and 2021. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal Party won both elections.

On Wednesday, a panel of Canadian bureaucrats concluded before the Foreign Interference Committee that they were not informed of India’s attempts to influence the election.

“At the beginning of our work, the SITE working group briefed us on the capabilities of foreign actors and some of the tools they might use. As we went into the campaign, we were briefed on the activities and the intelligence or information. “The question is How to deploy these capabilities or these tools. I don’t think we’ll see evidence of the Indian government using these tools in campaigns during the 2021 elections,” the group noted.

Previously, India responded strongly to a report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies accusing New Delhi of interfering in the Canadian election.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said: “We have seen media reports regarding the ongoing investigation by the Canada Council. We strongly reject all such baseless allegations of Indian interference in Canada’s elections.”

“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,” he said.

Diplomatic ties between India and Canada have been strained since the Canadian prime minister resigned last year Justin Trudeau claims Indian government agents ‘could’ have been involved Killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

India rejected Trudeau’s claims, calling them “ridiculous” and “motivated” and said Canada was giving space to Khalistani elements targeting New Delhi.

On Tuesday, the Foreign Interference Committee also discussed the findings of a February 2023 intelligence survey by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), which stated: China interferes in Canadian election 2019 and 2021.

The intervention has been described as strategic and aimed at supporting candidates seen as “pro-China” or “neutral” on issues involving the Chinese government. PRC represents the People’s Republic of China.