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Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau responded to this development by emphasising his government’s grave concern regarding foreign interference in a statement.
Recent findings from a high-level Canadian parliamentary committee have placed India as the “second biggest foreign threat” to Canada’s democracy, following China.
Today’s News :
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau responded to this development by emphasising his government’s grave concern regarding foreign interference in a statement, the Hindustan Times reported.
Canada’s National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians (NSICOP), comprising members with top security clearances from both the House of Commons and the Senate, unveiled the report during a period of strained India-Canada relations.
The release of this report coincides with heightened tensions between the two nations, worsened by Trudeau’s prior allegations accusing Indian government agents of involvement in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. New Delhi promptly dismissed these accusations as baseless, as mentioned in the report.
The report alleges, “India has become the second-most significant foreign interference threat to Canada’s democratic institutions and processes, displacing Russia.
India’s foreign interference efforts have gradually expanded beyond countering pro- Khalistan elements in Canada. These efforts include intervention in Canadian democratic systems and institutions, including targeting Canadian politicians, ethnic media, and the Indo-Canadian ethnocultural communities.” Within its 84 pages, the report makes 44 references to India
Indian officials have not yet responded to these allegations. Previously, New Delhi has refuted similar claims, accusing Canadian officials of meddling in Indian affairs and harbouring extremist elements, including those linked to the Khalistani movement.