India rejects Canadian report on election meddling, accuses Canada of interference in internal affairs

The Ministry of External Affairs rejected a Canadian report on Tuesday that alleged the Indian government interfered in Canada’s elections. The ministry countered the claim, saying that, in fact, it is Canada that has been consistently interfering in India’s internal affairs.

“We have seen a report about alleged activities concerning purported interference. It is, in fact, Canada which has been consistently interfering in India’s internal affairs. This has also created an environment for illegal migration and organised criminal activities. We reject the report’s insinuations regarding India and expect that the support system enabling illegal migration will not be further countenanced,” the MEA said in a statement.

The report from the Canadian Commission alleged that, after China, India was the second most active country involved in interfering in Canada’s electoral process. “Like the PRC, India is a critical actor on the world stage. Canada and India have worked together for decades, but there are challenges in the relationship. Many of these are long-standing and inform India’s foreign interference activities,” the report said.

The 123-page report also touched on the October 2024 expulsion of six diplomats, labeling them as ‘agents.’ Canada had expelled the diplomats after evidence linked them to an alleged Indian government “campaign of violence.” In response, India expelled six Canadian diplomats shortly after summoning Canada’s Chargé d’Affaires, Stewart Wheeler, and condemning the “baseless targeting” of its diplomats.

Additionally, the report claimed that India spread disinformation regarding the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. However, it contradicted itself by stating that Canada could not find a link to a foreign state in his killing.

“Disinformation is also used as a retaliatory tactic to punish decisions that run contrary to a state’s interests. This may have been the case with a disinformation campaign that followed the Prime Minister’s announcement regarding suspected Indian involvement in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar (though, again, no definitive link to a foreign state could be proven),” the report said.

On 20 November, India strongly refuted reports in Canadian media regarding the killing of India-designated Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, saying that they should be dismissed with the “contempt they deserve.” The ministry further emphasised that “smear campaigns” like these only “further damage our already strained ties.”