SOURCE: AFI
India has strongly refuted allegations of interfering in Canada’s democratic processes, following a Canadian report identifying India and China as potential threats. The declassified report, released by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), prompted the Canadian Foreign Interference Commission to investigate potential foreign interference in the 2019 and 2021 elections.
“We strongly reject all such baseless allegations of Indian interference in Canadian elections,” asserted MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal. “It is not the Government of India’s policy to interfere in the democratic process of other countries,” he added, emphasizing India’s commitment to respecting democratic norms.
Interestingly, Jaiswal went further, accusing Canada itself of meddling in Indian internal affairs. “In fact, it is Canada who has been interfering in our internal affairs,” he claimed. “We have been raising this issue regularly with them and continue to call on Canada to take effective measures to address our core concerns,” he said, without elaborating on the specific nature of these concerns.
This exchange highlights the growing tensions between India and Canada, particularly on the issue of foreign interference. While Canada seeks to address potential threats to its elections, India vehemently denies any involvement and deflects by accusing Canada of similar actions.