NEW DELHI: India and Pakistan had tried to “interfere” in Canadian elections held in 2019 and 2021, the country’s spy agency has alleged, according to a media report on Friday. India has “strongly” rejected the allegation.
An unclassified summary by Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) alleging the interference was tabled as part of federal commission of inquiry examining possible meddling by China, India, Russia and others in the 2019 and 2021 elections.The ministry of external affairs, however, has maintained that the allegations are baseless.
Responding to the claims of interference in Feb, spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal had said it was Canada which had been interfering in India’s internal affairs.
According to the document, attempts were made by India and Pakistan to interfere in Canada’s elections, as per the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s reports. The country’s federal commission of inquiry into foreign interference is looking to examine allegations of meddling by India in the last two general elections, the media reports claimed.
In 2021, govt of India had “intent to interfere and likely conducted clandestine activities”, including using an Indian govt proxy agent in Canada, the CSIS alleged in the documents. In 2019, “Govt of Pakistan officials in Canada attempted to clandestinely influence Canadian federal politics with the aim of furthering govt of Pakistan’s interests in Canada,” the report cited the CSIS documents. The spy agency alleges that in 2021, Indian govt’s foreign interference activities “were centred on a small number of electoral districts”. “Indian govt targeted those ridings because there was a perception by India that a portion of Indo-Canadian voters were sympathetic to Khalistani movement or pro-Pakistan political stances,” the document said.
An unclassified summary by Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) alleging the interference was tabled as part of federal commission of inquiry examining possible meddling by China, India, Russia and others in the 2019 and 2021 elections.The ministry of external affairs, however, has maintained that the allegations are baseless.
Responding to the claims of interference in Feb, spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal had said it was Canada which had been interfering in India’s internal affairs.
According to the document, attempts were made by India and Pakistan to interfere in Canada’s elections, as per the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s reports. The country’s federal commission of inquiry into foreign interference is looking to examine allegations of meddling by India in the last two general elections, the media reports claimed.
In 2021, govt of India had “intent to interfere and likely conducted clandestine activities”, including using an Indian govt proxy agent in Canada, the CSIS alleged in the documents. In 2019, “Govt of Pakistan officials in Canada attempted to clandestinely influence Canadian federal politics with the aim of furthering govt of Pakistan’s interests in Canada,” the report cited the CSIS documents. The spy agency alleges that in 2021, Indian govt’s foreign interference activities “were centred on a small number of electoral districts”. “Indian govt targeted those ridings because there was a perception by India that a portion of Indo-Canadian voters were sympathetic to Khalistani movement or pro-Pakistan political stances,” the document said.