Canadian national security officials have sparked a warning about the Srivastava group, an Indian -based Indian business organization, and its executive, Ankit Srivastava, claiming their involvement in secret activities aimed at influencing Canadian policy.
The Srivastava group, which operates throughout Belgium, Switzerland and Canada, has business in many sectors, including media, oil and gas. However, according to the general records obtained by Global News, there is a relationship between Srivastava and Indian intelligence agencies.
A report issued in 2015 by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) reveals that the Vice President of the Srivastava Group was assigned to Indian intelligence in 2009 with the influence of Canadian politicians. The task included determining the “Employed Caucasian politicians” and providing them with financial support and propaganda in support of India for the impact of their positions on the main issues related to India.
In a later report in 2021, CSIS accused the SRIVASTAVA group of fake web sites represented in legitimate news outlets, some of which were designed to target Canadian fans. The goal was to promote a supportive narration of India and Pakistan’s criticism, as the report claimed.
Canadian immigration authorities have taken more measures, announcing Srivastava, “a serious threat to Canada” due to fears of his participation in attempts to influence the elections. These fake media were considered a possible tool to address public opinion and endanger the integrity of the Canadian electoral system.
The allegations against Srivastava come amid increasing concerns about foreign intervention in Canada, especially from India. Canadian officials suspect that Indian agents have participated in the illegal financial support that aims to influence political candidates who have an agenda supporting India, in detail in a report from the Foreign Intervention Committee in Canada.
Although specific individuals are not named, the government’s accusations against Srivastava and his company have been documented in hundreds of pages of public records in the Federal Court in Canada.
The activities of the misinformation of the Srivastava group extend beyond Canada. In 2019 and 2020, Disinfolab, a group based in Brussels, focused on facing misleading information, revealed a wide network of more than 265 fake news sites operating in more than 65 countries. It was claimed that these sites are designed to spread Indian interests by distorting the reputation of Pakistan, especially within the European Union (European Union) and the United Nations (United Nations).
The network aims to influence public opinion and diplomatic decisions in favor of India and undermine related countries, such as Pakistan, and to a lesser extent, China. These activities also targeted the diaspora in South Asia in Canada, with the aim of improving the international image of India.
In 2022, the Canadian immigration authorities informed Srivastava that his immigration request was against the country’s interests, noting his prominent role in the campaigns to get rid of the Srivastava group. The group was linked to fake news outlets such as *Ep Today *, *Eu Chronicle *, *The Times of Geneva *, and *4 News Agency *, which were all found pushing the narratives supporting India while distorting information about geopolitical competitors in India.
Sixteen of these websites are designed to appear as Canadian news ports, according to a report issued by Canadian immigration officials. The sites were used to inflate false or misleading articles that advanced political interests of India, especially targeting Pakistan.
The activities of the Srivastava group are frequented by previous allegations against misleading campaigns in India abroad. In 2017, * Geo News * revealed how India organized a campaign against Pakistan through the organized protests and paid volunteers. This report revealed the secret Indian government operations, which included the development of anti -Pakistan advertisements on advertising paintings, buses and vehicles, as well as the use of fake protests to malicious Pakistan during a decisive session of the United Nations Human Rights Council.
In addition to the continuous misinformation of the Srivastava Group, these efforts have increased scrutiny of foreign influence activities in India, especially those that aim to destabilize governments and manipulate international perceptions to achieve political gains.
The revelation about the participation of Srivastava in spreading fake news and influencing the elections highlights the extent of foreign interference in Canadian political processes and emphasizes the need for vigilance against these secret operations.
