'Baseless allegations': MEA dismisses reports suggesting 'India's interference in Canadian elections'

Days after several media reports suggested that Canadian authorities had in a classified document marked India as a ‘foreign interference threat’ that could potentially interfere in Canadian elections, the Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday strongly rejected the “baseless allegations” saying that  it’s not India’s policy to interfere in the democratic process of other countries. Addressing the media on Thursday, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “We have seen media reports, Canadian Commission inquiring into foreign interferences…we strongly reject such baseless allegations of Indian interference in Canadian elections.”

#WATCH | MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal says, " We have seen media reports, Canadian Commission inquiring into foreign interferences...we strongly reject such baseless allegations of Indian interference in Canadian elections, it is not govt of India's policy to interfere in the… pic.twitter.com/tUCq20uvzz

— ANI (@ANI) February 8, 2024

He further said that it’s not India’s policy to interfere in the democratic process of other countries and instead blamed Canada for interfering in India’s internal matters. “It is not govt of India’s policy to interfere in the democratic process of other countries, in fact, quite on the reverse it is Canada, who has been interfering in our internal affairs. We have been raising this issue regularly with them, we continue to call on Canada to take effective measures to address our core concerns,” said Jaiswal. Recently, Canadian Security Intelligence Service’s declassified document to Canadian government showed that the authorities had marked India as a ‘foreign interference threat’ that could potentially interfere in Canadian elections. The Canadian intelligence agency report mentions “India engages in Foreign Interference activities." According to a report by Global News, that accessed the declassified documents, almost three pages of the report were devoted to India, although they were entirely redacted except for a single sentence that claimed India engages in Foreign Interference activities. The Canadian intelligence report points to the need for “clearly articulated strategies," and said raising awareness and briefing officials and politicians was “central to these efforts." Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had ordered the inquiry of foreign interference in attempting to sway Canadian elections after media reports flagged Chinese activities. On Indian students death in US, Jaiswal said that five Indian students have died including students from India diaspora. Of the five, two are India nationals and the remaining three are of Indian origin but US nationals.

#WATCH | On Indian students death in US, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal says, " "There are 5 Indian students who have died...that also includes students from India diaspora, of this 5, 2 are India nationals and rest 3 are of Indian origin but US nationals...culprit behind Vivek… pic.twitter.com/cQwtCYdnb7

— ANI (@ANI) February 8, 2024

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#WATCH | MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal says, " Budget for the Maldives this time is Rs 770.9 crores..it has actually gone up. The new figure will also be revised once we have more details and more clarity on what sort of forward movement is happening...We remain an important… pic.twitter.com/xmqhUpK7Xb

— ANI (@ANI) February 8, 2024

“The new figure will also be revised once we have more details and more clarity on what sort of forward movement is happening…We remain an important committed development partner for Maldives,” he added. With inputs from agencies