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Indo-Canadian leader and Liberal Party leadership candidate Ruby Dhalla has strongly denied allegations that the Indian government interfered in her campaign. She described the claims as "unacceptable" and an attempt to discredit her.
The Allegations Against Ruby Dhalla
The controversy arose after The Globe and Mail published a report claiming that the Liberal Party had questioned Dhalla regarding possible foreign interference by the Indian government in her leadership campaign. However, the Liberal Party denied these claims, stating that none of the questions sent to her campaign were related to foreign interference.
Canadian media outlet CBC News also reported that Dhalla had links to Indian politics. The report pointed out that her social media activity showed her involvement in Indian elections, including assisting the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2017 and visiting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2022 as part of a Sikh delegation.
Ruby Dhalla’s Response to the Allegations
Dhalla expressed her shock at these allegations, calling them completely false. She took to social media platform X to address the controversy, stating:
“As the first woman of color to run for Prime Minister in the history of Canada, I will not allow every person of color or Canadian from a multicultural community to be painted with the brush of foreign interference. It is unacceptable and wrong.”
She also told CPAC that her campaign had fully cooperated with the Liberal Party’s inquiries. The party had raised questions about two individuals donating to her campaign using the same credit card. Dhalla clarified that the donations came from couples with joint accounts and were completely legitimate.
Ruby Dhalla’s Political Journey
Dhalla officially entered the Liberal Party leadership race on January 22. In an interview with CTV News, she shared her ambitions:
“I hope that we’re going to make history, and create history as the first woman of Indian origin to be elected as Prime Minister of Canada.”
Dhalla was first elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) in 2004 from the Brampton-Springdale riding. She was re-elected in 2006 and 2008 but lost in 2011. She did not contest the 2015 election when the Liberal Party won a majority.
Liberal Party Leadership Race
The leadership contest was triggered when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his resignation on January 6. The party is set to select a new leader by March 9, 2025. Dhalla remains a strong contender in the race, despite the controversy surrounding her campaign.
Conclusion
Ruby Dhalla has firmly denied any allegations of foreign interference and called the accusations baseless. As she continues her campaign for the Liberal Party leadership, she aims to make history as the first woman of Indian origin to become Prime Minister of Canada. The leadership race will conclude on March 9, when the party chooses its next leader.
