Former Liberal MP Addresses Claims He Was Blocked From Re-election Bid Over India Ties

Liberal MP Chandra Arya walks to a press conference about the first-time home buyer incentive in Ottawa on March 20, 2019. The Canadian Press/Justin Tang

Former Liberal MP Chandra Arya has responded to allegations the party dropped him as a candidate in the upcoming election because of concerns of foreign interference over his connections in India.

Arya was informed on March 20 that the party revoked his candidacy in the April 28 election for the Nepean riding, which he has represented since 2015. Prime Minister and Liberal Party Leader Mark Carney is contesting the riding for the Liberals this election.

Arya posted the letter he received from Liberal national campaign director Andrew Bevan, who did not give a reason for the party’s decision.

“Based on a review of new information by the Chair of the Green Light Committee, the National Campaign Co-chair is recommending the revocation of your status as a Candidate,” Bevan said in his March 20 letter.

A recent report by The Globe and Mail said according to anonymous sources with top ranking security clearance Arya was  dropped over alleged ties to the government of India and foreign interference concerns. The newspaper noted Arya had visited India in August 2024 and met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The news report also said the Canadian Security Intelligence Service had briefed the government over Arya’s “close ties” to India’s government.

Arya challenged the accusations in a March 26 post on social media.

“As a Member of Parliament, I have engaged with numerous diplomats and heads of government, both in Canada and internationally,” he wrote, adding he has never been required to get permission from the Canadian government.

“At no point did former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau or any cabinet minister raise concerns about my meetings or public statements. The sole point of contention with the Liberal Party has been my outspoken advocacy on issues important to Hindu Canadians and my firm stance against Khalistani extremism,” Arya said in the post.

Arya was also prevented from running for the Liberal party leadership after Justin Trudeau announced his intention to step down in January. In a Jan. 26 post on X, he said he had been notified that the party would not allow him to run.

Relations between Canada and India have been tense since September 2023, when former Prime Minister Trudeau said the Indian government was involved in the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey on June 18, 2023. India denies the allegation.

Ottawa and India expelled diplomats from each other’s countries following the allegations.

In 2023, Arya presented a petition to the House of Commons asking the Liberal government to reconsider its proposed “foreign influence transparency registry.”

The petition said the registry was a “misleading way to identify sources of foreign influence” and could lead to “serious harassment and stigmatization risk for racialized communities.”

The Liberal government went ahead to enact the registration as part of 2024 legislation to combat foreign interference.

Matthew Horwood contributed to this article.