Indian intelligence agencies used money and disinformation to influence politicians in Canada into supporting its interests overseas, reported Canadian publication Global News .
The report, based on federal court proceedings and a highly sensitive government document obtained by the publication, claims that India’s top intelligence agencies – the Research Analysis Wing (RAW) and the Indian Intelligence Bureau (IB) – were behind the operation which started in 2009. Canadian security officials suspected that two main intelligence agencies of India had asked an Indian national to influence Canadian politicians into supporting New Delhi’s interests, the report suggests.
What does the government has to say? Contacting upon the matter, Public Safety Minister Bill Blair’s office refused to comment on the case but said the government was “concerned when any country shows destabilizing behavior, including interference in other countries’ democratic systems.”
Foreign Interference: Canada accuses #India's intelligence agencies of targeting Canadian politicians in covert influence operation involving $, w/expert commentary from @StephanieCarvin https://t.co/5YFKDqG945 pic.twitter.com/aeposDNqPi
— Stewart Bell (@StewGlobal) April 17, 2020
The man behind it The suspected is the editor-in-chief of an unnamed Indian newspaper was detained in connection — referred as A.B in the report. He allegedly met Indian intelligence over a dozen times over six year. His wife and son are Canadian citizens. His last meeting with Indian spy agencies was a month after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Canada in 2015. Also Read: More than 100,000 people gather at a funeral in Bangladesh despite lockdown