India Rejects Canadian Report Alleging Election Interference, Accuses Ottawa of Meddling
On January 28, 2025, India firmly dismissed a Canadian commission’s report alleging that New Delhi attempted to interfere in Canada’s electoral processes. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) labeled the accusations as baseless and countered by accusing Canada of consistently meddling in India’s internal affairs. The MEA’s statement emphasized that such Canadian actions have fostered an environment conducive to illegal migration and organized criminal activities.
The MEA’s response highlighted concerns over Canada’s role in facilitating illegal migration and organized crime, suggesting that Ottawa’s actions have adversely affected India’s domestic affairs. The statement called for an end to the support systems enabling such activities, urging Canada to refrain from further interference.
This diplomatic exchange follows the release of a Canadian government report that identified both China and India as having attempted to meddle in Canada’s elections. The report specifically named India as the second-most active country engaging in electoral interference, following China. It alleged that India, through its diplomatic officials and proxies, clandestinely provided illicit financial support to certain Canadian politicians to influence electoral outcomes.
The Canadian report acknowledged that there was no definitive evidence indicating that the targeted politicians were aware of the interference attempts or that these efforts had a tangible impact on election results. Nevertheless, the allegations have intensified diplomatic tensions between the two nations.
In its rebuttal, India reiterated its longstanding position of non-interference in the democratic processes of other countries. The MEA underscored that it is, in fact, Canada that has been intruding into India’s domestic matters, thereby straining bilateral relations.
This incident adds to a series of diplomatic disputes between India and Canada, reflecting ongoing challenges in their bilateral relationship. Both nations have previously accused each other of interference, leading to a complex and strained diplomatic engagement.
