No evidence of Indian interference in Canadian elections, investigation finds
PTC Web Desk: An official investigation has concluded that India was not involved in any attempt to interfere in the Canadian elections, according to a panel of senior Canadian officials monitoring the 2021 polls. The probe found no evidence of India using any tools to influence the national elections, as per testimony provided to the investigation.
In contrast, the Canadian intelligence agency revealed that China had interfered in Canada's last two elections, according to the same official probe. This development comes after previous allegations by Canada Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) suggesting India and Pakistan attempted to interfere in the Canadian elections of 2019 and 2021.
The Liberal Party, led by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, emerged victorious in both the 2019 and 2021 elections. Trudeau, under pressure from opposition lawmakers following media reports on potential Chinese interference, established a commission to investigate foreign meddling. Trudeau himself is slated to testify before the probe panel today.
Earlier, India had denied these allegations and reaffirmed its commitment to non-interference in other countries' democratic processes. External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal strongly refuted the claims, describing them as baseless and asserting that India does not engage in such practices. Jaiswal also pointed out that it is Canada which has been interfering in India's internal affairs.
The Canadian inquiry into foreign meddling has strained relations between the two countries, exacerbated by previous allegations from Trudeau regarding Indian involvement in the killing of Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil. Despite India's dismissal of these allegations as unfounded, the fallout has led to diplomatic tensions between the two nations.
- With inputs from agencies
