In the last financial year, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) was allocated Rs 2.64 lakh crore, the highest-ever, and it managed to spend 99.93 per cent of it

An official investigation into the allegations of foreign meddling in Canada elections has concluded that India didn’t try to interfere in the Canadian politics.

A panel of senior Canadian officials monitoring the 2021 elections in the country were not informed of any attempt by India to influence national polls, the probe found. 

“I do not believe during the 2021 election that we saw evidence of Government of India using those tools in the campaign,” a poll official told the probe panel. 

However, the Canadian intelligence agency found that China did interfere in Canada’s last two elections, according to testimony in an official probe.

This comes days after Canada Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) alleged that India and Pakistan attempted to interfere in the Canadian elections that took place in 2019 and 2021.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal Party won both the elections, held in 2019 and 2021. Under pressure from opposition legislators unhappy about media reports on China’s possible role, Trudeau set up a commission into foreign interference.

Trudeau is scheduled to testify before the probe panel today. 

India had earlier refuted the claims and assured its commitment to non-interference in other nations’ democratic processes.

“We have seen media reports about the Canadian commission enquiring into …We strongly reject all such baseless allegations of Indian interference in Canadian elections,” External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in February.

“It is not the government of India’s policy to interfere in the democratic processes of other countries. In fact, quite on the reverse, it is Canada which has been interfering in our internal affairs,” he added.

Canada’s inquiry into foreign meddling has escalated tensions in already strained ties between the two countries. 

Trudeau’s previous allegations of Indian involvement in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil have become a flashpoint in bilateral relations between the two nations. 

Despite India’s dismissal of these allegations as absurd, the fallout resulted in diplomatic repercussions.

It is a person’s choice to avail health services under Ayush or allopathic medicine, and denigration of any system should be discouraged, the Centre has told Supreme Court in its reply in the misleading advertisements case against Patanjali Ayurved and its founders, Yoga guru Ramdev and his aide Balkrishna.

This comes after the Supreme Court pulled up the Patanjali founders and said the company’s advertisements are in the “teeth of law”. The court came down heavily on Ramdev and Balkrishna for not filing proper affidavits. It also refused to accept an apology filed by Patanjali last month, noting that it is “not persuading this court” and “is more of a lip service”. The court then asked Ramdev and Balkrishna to return today with fresh affidavits.

The Supreme Court had also fielded tough questions to the central government. “We are wondering why the government chose to keep their eyes shut,” it said last week.

The Centre’s reply says that states are the empowered authority to act against advertisements claiming magic remedies. However, the Centre has taken up the matter in a timely manner as per the law, it said. Referring to Patanjali’s claim that it had developed a drug, Coronil, as a cure for Covid-19, the affidavit says the company had been told not to put out such advertisements till the matter is examined by the Ayush Ministry.

The Centre’s reply says that after a detailed interdisciplinary process, the State Licensing Authority was informed that Coronil tablet “may only be considered as supporting measure in Covid-19”. It also says that the Centre has taken proactive steps with regard to false claims for Covid cure. States and Union Territories have been asked to stop ads of Ayush-related claims for Covid treatment.

The Centre’s affidavit says that its existing policy advocates a model of “integrative healthcare system with integration of Ayush systems with allopathy”. “It is the choice of a person or a healthcare seeker to avail services of Ayush system or Allopathic medicine. Government encourages to utilize the strengths of each healthcare system for betterment of overall health of its citizens in a holistic manner.

“Therefore, it is most respectfully submitted that denigration of a system of medicine by the practitioner(s) of other system(s) of medicines as they lack the complete understanding of other system of medicine and this should be discouraged in public interest and mutual respect,” the Centre’s reply said.

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) approached the Supreme Court in 2022, flagging “false” and “misleading” claims in Patanjali’s advertisements. IMA had referred to several advertisements which allegedly projected the allopathy and the doctors in poor light. These ads say medical practitioners are dying despite taking modern medicines, IMA’s counsel had said.

The government of Uttarakhand, where Patanjali Yogpeeth is based, has also filed an affidavit in Supreme Court, stating that it has been vigilant and has taken appropriate steps to ensure legal compliance by Patanjali. The state government has said Patanjali was sent multiple notices, but it sought refuge under a 2019 interim order of Bombay High Court.

Assuring action, the Uttarakhand government said they are aware of the gravity of situation. “The State Authorities will take all due steps against Divya Pharmacy and/or Patanjali Ayurved Limited, as per procedure prescribed in law and/or as per directions of this Hon’ble Court,” it said.