Ottawa/New Delhi, Feb 22 (Reporter) Canada’s Indian-origin former MP Ruby Dhalla has been disqualified by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Liberal Party for running for the top position. Her ouster came amid questions about campaign finances and possible allegations of foreign interference, which Dhalla has strongly denied. Dhalla described the party’s decision as "shocking and deeply disappointing". The Liberal Leadership Vote Committee unanimously made the decision following “an extensive process and review, including interviews, questionnaires, and an opportunity for Dr. Dhalla to directly address the committees.” The committee, in a joint sitting with the Leadership Expense Committee, said that Dhalla “was in breach of 10 violations of the National Leadership Rules, Leadership Vote Rules, and the Leadership Expense Rules.” “The violations include concerns about alleged violations of the Canada Elections Act, certain other election finance matters, non-disclosure of material facts, and inaccurate financial reporting,” they added. Dhalla told CTV News that she learnt of her disqualification from “watching the news,” adding that as someone running for the leadership race and to be the next prime minister, “the party would have had the courtesy to inform me directly, instead of having me learn about this from media reports.” She termed the allegations against her as “fictitious” and “false", and the disqualification as an effort by the Liberal Party to keep her off the debate stage and ballot in order to “complete the coronation” for former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney to become the party’s leader. “I was the only outsider in the race that was speaking about progressive policies that I believe are the need of the hour in our country,” Dhalla said. “It is very evident that the party did not like that, and they did not want me to bring those progressive policies to the debate stage in Montreal.” Following the announcement, she posted to social media saying the decision was “disappointing,” considering it was “leaked to the media.” “I have just been informed by the Liberal Party of Canada that I have been disqualified from the leadership race. This decision is both shocking and deeply disappointing, especially since it was leaked to the media," she said in a post on X. During her campaign, she vowed to take on US President Donald Trump, saying as a businesswoman, she is best suited to negotiate with him. She also promised a “stronger military, stronger borders,” and that Canada will “end involvement in foreign wars,” if she becomes prime minister. The Liberals will choose their successor to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on March 9. The four remaining leadership candidates – former central banker Mark Carney, ex-finance minister Chrystia Freeland, former House leader Karina Gould and ex-MP Frank Baylis – face off in separate French and English debates on Monday and Tuesday. In January, another Indian-origin Canadian Liberal MP Chandra Arya was barred from running for the leadership. The party did not say why Arya was disqualified, but pointed to Liberal Party rules that say candidates can be banned owing to “public statements, past improper conduct, a lack of commitment to democracy, or other reputational or legal jeopardy.” On January 6, Justin Trudeau announced he will resign as Liberal party leader and prime minister once a new one is chosen in a leadership race...////...