New Delhi : In a strongly worded statement today, Modern Delhi refuted accusations of election interference in Canada, emphasizing that it is Canada that has been meddling in its internal affairs.
Following the declassification of an intelligence report by Canada, which labeled India as a “foreign threat” potentially involved in their elections, months after alleging Delhi’s involvement in the killing of a Khalistani terrorist on Canadian soil, India responded.
“We have observed media reports regarding a Canadian inquiry into foreign interferences… We strongly reject such unfounded allegations of Indian interference in Canadian elections. It is not India’s policy to interfere in the democratic processes of other nations,” stated Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal to reporters today.
“In fact, it’s quite the opposite. It is Canada that has been interfering in our internal affairs. We have been raising this issue repeatedly with them. We continue to call on Canada to take effective measures to address our core concerns,” Mr. Jaiswal added.
This latest development follows a series of accusations and counter-allegations that emerged last year when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused India of involvement in the assassination of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, an allegation India denied.
The declassified October 2022 report titled “Foreign Interferences and Elections: A National Security Assessment” identified India as a “threat” and warned that foreign interferences were jeopardizing Canada’s democracy.
Canada has also leveled similar allegations against China and Russia, with China identified as “by far the most significant threat.”
Tensions between India and Canada escalated since Prime Minister Narendra Modi rebuked Justin Trudeau over escalating secessionist activities in his country during a bilateral meeting at the sidelines of the G20 summit in Delhi last year.
A week later, Mr. Trudeau made the explosive allegation that “Indian government agents” might be involved in the shooting of terrorist Nijjar, who was a Canadian citizen.
