The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Tuesday rejected Canada’s allegations of election interference, instead accusing Ottawa of consistently meddling in its internal affairs.

“We have seen a report about alleged activities related to purported interference. It is in fact Canada which has been consistently interfering in India’s internal affairs,” said MEA.

“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,” it added.

A Canadian report from the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians indicated that India emerged as the second-largest foreign interference threat to Canada’s democratic institutions, expanding its efforts beyond countering pro-Khalistani activities to targeting politicians, ethnic media, and Indo-Canadian communities. Pakistan also engaged in interference during the early phase of the review period.

“During the period under review, India also demonstrated the intent and capability to engage in this type of foreign interference through media manipulation,” the ‘Special Report on Foreign Interference in

Canada’s Democratic Processes and Institutions’ mentioned.

As per the report, efforts to discredit a political party leader using materials drafted by Indian intelligence organisations.

Another allegation in the report was that India also takes advantage of networks and developed and built a network of contacts through whom it ‘conducts interference activities, including journalists, members of ethnocultural communities and some members of Parliament.’