The Canadian Security Intelligence Service, the country’s highest foreign intelligence agency, has alleged that India had potentially interfered in the country’s election in a recent intelligence report. The report accessed by the media on Thursday named India as a 'foreign interference threat' and stated that the government "must do more to protect Canada’s robust democratic institutions and processes."
The top-secret briefing report obtained by Canadian media Global News also stated that India’s interference would worsen if not intervened.
This is the first time India has been accused of election interference in Canada. China and Russia were already facing charges of meddling in Canadian politics.
The declassified document, titled ‘Briefing to the Minister of Democratic Institutions on Foreign Interference,’ dated February 24, 2023, also names China and calls it “by far the most significant threat.”
“The PRC’s FI activities are broad in scope and significant in the level of expended resources. The activities are significant, pervasive, and directed against all levels of government and civil society across the country,” the report states.
FI refers to foreign interference and PRC stands for People’s Republic of China.
India and China were the only two countries identified by their name in the latest intelligence report.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau ordered an enquiry into the allegations made in the newly released intelligence report.
The ties between India and Canada came under severe strain following Trudeau's September 2023 allegations of "potential" involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on June 18 in British Columbia. India has dismissed the allegations as “absurd” and “motivated.”
Published On:
Feb 3, 2024
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