India interfering with country’s democratic processes: Canadian agency
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New Delhi: The Canadian Security Intelligence Service termed India as a foreign interference threat, allegedly trying to influence the country’s democratic processes, Global News reported citing a declassified document.
The details of the document titled ‘Briefing to the Minister of Democratic Institutions on Foreign Interference’, dated February 24, 2023, emerged as the relations between both countries remain strained.
The bilateral ties strained after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused India of involving in the murder of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar near Vancouver.
The document sought efforts “to protect Canada’s robust democratic institutions and processes”.
Though the document devoted three pages to India, it is all boiled down to a single sentence: ‘India engages in FI [Foreign Interference] activities,’ as the remaining were completely redacted, as per reports.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau set up the Foreign Interference Commission to probe alleged interference by foreign countries in Canada’s general elections in 2019 and 2021.
It was set up following reports of Chinese attempt to influence the general elections and the commission is tasked to look into alleged interference by other countries including Russia.
The commission’s interim report will be submitted by May 3 and release the final report by December 31.
The commission on January 24 sought the government to share information about alleged interference by India.
The document focus mainly on China saying the country ‘sought to clandestinely and deceptively influence the 2019 and 2021 federal elections’.
It said that China’s activities are ‘broad in scope’ alongside adding ‘the activities are significant, pervasive, and directed against all levels of government and civil society across the country.’