The Canadian Public Inquiry Into Foreign Interference in Federal Electoral Processes and Democratic Institutions released its report on 28 Jan and concluded the probe into whether the 2019 and 2021 Canadian Federal elections were free and fair. An accompanying statement said, 'It is clear that our democracy faces a continuous and escalating threat from foreign actors who seek to undermine our sovereignty and destabilize our institutions. As Commissioner Justice Marie-Josée Hogue emphasized, safeguarding Canadians’ trust in our democratic institutions is paramount.' However, Indian media seemingly ‘misread’ the report to run multiple stories claiming that there was ‘no definitive link’ between the killing of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia in June 2023 and India. Indian media highlighted that the report contradicted Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s allegations in September 2023 that the Indian government was involved in the killing. This was demonstrably false and misleading, a second time in two weeks (read more). It must be noted that the Canadian inquiry was into foreign interference in elections and not the Nijjar killing. Still, in its first volume, the report dedicated a section to the Nijjar killing, which is still under an ongoing investigation. The report clearly mentioned India’s role as the second-most active country engaging in electoral foreign interference in Canada, after China. The report also acknowledged India’s ‘legitimate’ concerns over the pro-Khalistan movement in Canada. However, it noted that India often conflates peaceful Khalistan advocacy with extremism. The commission’s findings revealed that Indian agents have engaged in violent crime, disinformation, and intimidation against Sikhs in Canada, aiming to suppress advocacy for human rights and self-determination. The Canada-based World Sikh Organization has called for a full public inquiry into Nijjar’s killing and India’s alleged transnational repression targeting Sikhs in Canada.
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