January 29, 2025: The Indian government has strongly rejected allegations made in a Canadian report accusing New Delhi of interfering in Canada's elections, dismissing the claims as baseless and turning the tables on Ottawa for allegedly meddling in India's internal affairs.

A report released by the Canadian Commission of Inquiry, led by Commissioner Marie-Josée Hogue, suggested that India had attempted to use "proxy agents" to secretly finance preferred candidates in the 2021 Canadian elections. It also labeled India as the second most active country engaging in electoral interference in Canada. The report further accused India of employing disinformation as a tool for foreign interference and pointed to tensions over India's security concerns regarding Khalistani separatism.

India, however, has categorically denied these accusations. In a strong rebuttal issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the government dismissed the "insinuations" in the report and countered by alleging that Canada has consistently interfered in India's internal matters, leading to an environment conducive to illegal migration and organized crime.

"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 organized 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 read.

The findings of the Canadian report come at a time when diplomatic ties between India and Canada remain strained. Tensions escalated sharply in 2023 when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused Indian agents of involvement in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The claim led to a diplomatic standoff, with both countries expelling each other's diplomats.

Despite the serious allegations, the Canadian inquiry found no evidence suggesting that members of its Parliament had collaborated with foreign governments to manipulate election outcomes.

The latest report is likely to deepen the diplomatic rift between the two nations, which have been at odds over security concerns, trade relations, and the presence of pro-Khalistan elements in Canada. While Canada continues to push for greater scrutiny of foreign interference in its democratic processes, India remains firm in its stance that Ottawa must address issues of extremism and organized crime within its borders.