Liberal MP denounces official who claimed India ceased foreign interference against Canada

Sukh Dhaliwal represents a Surrey riding at the heart of suspected Indian government operations.

A Liberal MP whose riding has been the scene of suspected Indian government operations has denounced a senior official who claimed New Delhi had ceased its foreign interference campaign against Canada.

Sukh Dhaliwal, whose Surrey-Newton constituency was shocked by India’s alleged 2023 assassination of a local temple president, said the official was out of step with the community and national security agencies.

“I strongly condemn these statements made by this official because he’s not in touch with the realities on the ground,” the veteran MP told Global News in an interview at his riding office on Thursday.

“I’m dealing with the community and the victims almost on a regular basis. And this is totally irresponsible,” he said. “People across Canada, they are all coming to me and telling me the same thing, that this is still continuing.”

He said the official’s comments were at odds with Canada’s National Security Advisor, the RCMP and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, which he said made no statements indicating that Indian efforts had stopped.

As recently as the last federal election, Dhaliwal said he believes he was himself targeted by Indian foreign interference. But he said victims are reluctant to speak out, because they fear for their families in India.

“It’s very hard for them to come out and publicly speak. And basically, they are pressured, either diplomatically or forcibly,” said Dhaliwal, who was served in the riding south of Vancouver since 2015.

In a written statement, he called for an investigation into “the judgment and responsibilities exercised by the individual who made these remarks,” saying his “conduct and suitability for their role must be reviewed.”