Canadian MP Denied Candidacy for Upcoming Elections After Opposing Khalistani Extremism
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Synopsis
Chandra Arya, a Canadian MP, has been barred from the upcoming elections due to alleged foreign interference concerns linked to India. He attributes this decision to his outspoken opposition to Khalistani extremism, claiming that his advocacy for Hindu Canadians was the reason behind his disqualification.
Key Takeaways
- Chandra Arya faces barring from elections.
- His stance against Khalistani extremism is central to the issue.
- Concerns about foreign interference were cited.
- Arya has been a vocal critic of Justin Trudeau.
- CSIS briefed the government on Arya's alleged ties to India.
Ottawa, March 27 (NationPress) Chandra Arya, a three-term Liberal Member of Parliament from Canada, has been prevented from running in the upcoming elections under the party's flag in his Ottawa Nepean riding due to alleged foreign-interference issues related to India. He believes that his nomination was revoked because of his opposition to the Khalistani extremist movement.
The MP, who is of Indian descent and practices Hinduism, has openly criticized former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for providing a safe haven to pro-Khalistani factions in Canada.
“Throughout my tenure as a Member of Parliament, I have interacted with various diplomats and world leaders, both in Canada and abroad. I have never had to seek — nor been required to seek — government permission for these engagements. At no time did former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau or any cabinet member express concerns regarding my meetings or public declarations. The only issue with the Liberal Party appears to be my vocal support for matters significant to Hindu Canadians and my strong opposition to Khalistani extremism,” Arya stated in response to a media report on his disqualification from the election.
A report by The Globe and Mail, a prominent Canadian newspaper, indicated that Arya had met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi last August without notifying the government, despite the current strained relations between Canada and India.
The Liberal Party has not provided specific reasons for barring Arya from the party's recent leadership race or his re-election bid in Ottawa Nepean.
Additionally, sources from the Liberal Party mentioned that the Canadian Security Intelligence Service had informed the government about Arya's alleged close connections with the Indian government, including its High Commission in Ottawa. Officials within the Liberal Party, who hold security clearances and had received a general briefing from CSIS regarding foreign interference, expressed concerns about Arya.
In December, Arya reported to the House of Commons that he faced threats from fellow Liberal MP Sukh Dhaliwal after he refused to support a motion condemning the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in India as “genocide.” Another unidentified MP also confronted him aggressively in the government lobby.
“As a Member of Parliament, I should be free to express my opinions and views without feeling threatened by the actions or words of other members,” he remarked at that time.
