Indian-origin candidates expelled from Canada’s Liberal Party leadership race

Toronto: Amid growing tensions between Canada and India after Canada accused India of carrying out assassination attempts on its citizens, three Indian-origin candidates—Ruby Dhalla, Chandra Arya, and Viresh Bansal—have been disqualified from the Liberal Party leadership race to become the next Prime Minister.

The party cited allegations of anti-Sikh sentiments, homophobia, and support for foreign interference by India as reasons for their exclusion.

The disqualification reflects Canada’s concerns over India’s growing influence in diaspora politics and its potential to fuel ethnic divisions abroad. Critics argue that India’s Hindutva ideology is increasingly shaping global narratives, with allegations of meddling in democratic processes.

Canada’s decision underlines the challenges Western nations face in balancing diaspora engagement with safeguarding democratic integrity. These nations view India’s alleged attempts to leverage its diaspora for nationalist agendas as a threat to democratic norms.