The subject of India’s meddling in Canadian affairs has been one of the major international news since September, 2023[1] when then Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau disclosed a potential link between the agents of the Government of India and the murder of a Canadian citizen, Hardeep Singh Nijjar.[2] Intelligence report released the following year disclosed that India’s interference in Canada is increasingly extending beyond countering the perceived threat from pro-Khalistani activism in Canada.[3] As we move into 2025, the investigation into India’s role continues to unveil further information.
On January 28, 2025, a Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference in Federal Electoral Processes and Democratic Institutions disclosed the Indian government’s meddling into Canadian electoral process, its tactics of inducing pro-India narrative, and countering Khalistan activism.[4] Although India rejected[5] the report’s contents, the findings of the Public Inquiry claimed to only have scratched the surface of Indian campaign of transnational interference, methods used and its targets. It is pertinent to analyse the background and findings of the report. How deeply the Indian government is invested in foreign interference, and why this is becoming a global concern? The report’s claims indicate that the Indian government has been using its global influence to brazenly intimidate, target, and influence democracies and its people, including close strategic partners.
