‘Not our policy’: Government on Canada spy agency claims

NEW DELHI: Govt on Thursday rejected a report by Canada’s intelligence agency that claimed foreign interference by India, saying India was a democracy that adhered to international norms and respected the sovereignty of other nations. The MEA said in response to media queries that India’s position on this issue had been clear and consistent and it categorically rejected such baseless imputations.

“It is not our policy to interfere in issues of other countries. We believe that any concerns of this nature should be addressed through established mechanisms, rather than through public or politicised narratives,” spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.

The report, however, had acknowledged the threat to Canada from Khalistani extremism, something that India has repeatedly warned Ottawa about. The official said India has consistently spoken out about concerns regarding the use of Canadian territory as a safe haven by extremist and separatist elements.

“The CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) assessment acknowledges the presence of supporters of the Khalistan separatist movement in Canada and notes that Canada-based Khalistani extremist groups continue to pose a national security threat not only to India but also to Canada,” Jaiswal said. “India has repeatedly urged the Canadian govt to take effective action against antiIndia extremist elements operating from its soil,” Jaiswal added.