New Delhi: India didn’t try to interfere in Canadian politics, an official investigation into the allegations of foreign meddling in Canada elections has concluded. A panel of senior Canadian officials monitoring the 2021 elections in the country were not informed of any attempt by India to influence national polls, the probe found. However, the Canadian intelligence agency found that China did interfere in Canada’s last two elections, according to testimony in an official probe
“I do not believe during the 2021 election that we saw evidence of the Government of India using those tools in the campaign,” a poll official told the probe panel, NDTV reported.
It may be recalled that the Canada Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) had alleged that India and Pakistan attempted to interfere in the Canadian elections that took place in 2019 and 2021. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal Party won both the elections, held in 2019 and 2021. Under pressure from opposition legislators unhappy about media reports on China’s possible role, Trudeau set up a commission into foreign interference.
Trudeau is scheduled to testify before the probe panel today.
India had earlier refuted the claims and assured its commitment to non-interference in other nations’ democratic processes.
Canada’s inquiry into foreign meddling has escalated tensions in the already strained ties between the two countries.
