India has rejected a report by the Canadian Commission accusing the government of interfering in Canada's elections and blamed Ottawa for meddling in New Delhi's internal affairs. In a strong rebuttal to the foreign interference commission report, which comes amid a strain in ties, the Ministry of External Affairs attempted to turn the tables by accusing Canada of creating an environment for "illegal migration" and "organised criminal activities".
"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 on India and expect that the support system enabling illegal migration will not be further countenanced," the MEA statement said.
The inquiry, led by Commissioner Marie-Josée Hogue, alleged that the government might have attempted to use "proxy agents to clandestinely provide financial support to preferred candidates during the 2021 election". It also labelled India as the second most active country engaging in electoral interference in Canada.
The report further said that India also uses disinformation as a key form of foreign interference in Canada. The report also mentions "challenges" in relations between the nations over India's perceived national security concerns about Khalistani separatism.
However, the inquiry found that there was no evidence of parliamentarians in Canada plotting with foreign governments to interfere with the country's elections.
The report has become the latest flashpoint between India and Canada since Prime Minister Justin Trudeau claimed in 2023 that Indian agents were allegedly involved in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
The issue flared up dramatically last year after the Canadian government claimed that Indian diplomats were "persons of interest" in the Nijjar murder investigation. India responded by withdrawing these diplomats, and also expelled six Canadian diplomats from the country.
