Canada has once again claimed that India is likely to try to interfere in the upcoming Canadian general election that is scheduled to take place on April 28.
The Canadian Security Intelligence Service said that China and India are likely to try to interfere in the election, while Russia and Pakistan have the potential to do so, Reuters reported.
Vanessa Lloyd, deputy director of operations at CSIS, told a press conference, “We have also seen that the government of India has the intent and capability to interfere in Canadian communities and democratic processes.”
Recently Mark Carney, who replaced Justin Trudeau as the Prime Minister of Canada, had promised to strengthen the damaged relationship with India if given the opportunity, in his run-up to the elections and now the country is again claiming.
Earlier, an official investigation alleges that India is the second most active country engaging in foreign interference in Canada. “It uses disinformation as a key tactic that may be used more often in the future, and it may have attempted to clandestinely provide financial support to preferred candidates during the 2021 elections without candidates’ knowledge,” it says.
MEA rejected the report and said, “We reject the report’s insinuations on India and expect that the support system enabling illegal migration will not be further countenanced.”
Diplomatic relations with India deteriorated after Canada expelled six Indian diplomats, including their head of mission, over alleged involvement in plots against Sikh separatists in Canada. Lloyd confirmed India’s capability and intention to interfere in Canadian democratic processes.