India rejected the allegations levelled by a Canadian commission report of interference in Toronto's elections by certain foreign governments.
The Foreign Interference Commission on Tuesday identified India as the “second most active country” (after China) engaging in electoral foreign interference in Canada. The Ministry of External Affairs also hit back saying Canada has been consistently interfering in India’s internal affairs.
“We have seen a report about alleged activities on purported interference. It is in fact Canada which has been consistently interfering in India’s internal affairs. This has also created an environment for illegal migration and organised criminal activities. We reject the report’s insinuations on India and expect that the support system enabling illegal migration will not be further countenanced,” the MEA said in an official statement.
In its first report, the Canada panel had pointed to China as the “most persistent and sophisticated foreign interference threat to Canada”. However, the final report lays out the ways in which India has become the “second most active country engaging in electoral foreign interference in Canada”.
Canadian newspaper The Globe and Mail had alleged that New Delhi used proxy agents to provide "clandestine financial support" to candidates from three political parties in a federal election.
Commissioner Marie-Josée Hogue, who led the inquiry, wrote, “Like the PRC (People’s Republic of China), India conducts foreign interference through diplomatic officials in Canada and through proxies”.
Hogue stated that a body of intelligence indicates that proxy agents may have, and may continue to be, “clandestinely providing illicit financial support to various Canadian politicians in an attempt to secure the election of pro-India candidates or gain influence over candidates who take office”.
The release of this report comes weeks before the ruling Liberal Party selects a new leader to succeed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who recently announced his resignation. Notably, India’s ties with Canada were impacted with New Delhi repeatedly expressing its deep concern about extremism and the culture of violence and anti-India activities in Canada and has asked Canadian authorities to take action against these activities.
Trudeau had earlier claimed that he had “credible allegations” of India’s hand in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada last year.
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