OTTAWA, Canada (Diya TV) — Canada’s opposition leader Pierre Poilievre is under intense criticism from the Indo-Canadian community for canceling a Diwali celebration that was to be held at Parliament Hill. The cancellation comes in the wake of heightened diplomatic tensions between Canada and India, primarily over allegations regarding the killing of pro-Khalistani activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
Originally scheduled for October 30 and hosted by the Overseas Friends of India Canada, OFIC, it is an annual event which unites various communities across Canada in celebrating Diwali. Shiv Bhasker, president of OFIC, claims that no reason was given for the last-minute cancellation, which “felt a betrayal and being unjustly singled out.”
Bhasker expressed disappointment in the move, terming it “discriminatory and insensitive.” He highlighted that Diwali is not just important for the Indo-Canadians but symbolizes Canada’s multicultural ethos. “Our politicians’ decision to withdraw from this cultural event sends the wrong message—that we are not fully part of this nation,” Bhasker wrote in an open letter to Poilievre’s office.
It has occurred amid diplomatic strains between the two countries, after recent allegations of Indian government involvement in targeting pro-Khalistani figures surfaced on Canadian soil. Still, said Bhasker, such political tensions should not factor in the treatment meted out to Indo-Canadians, calling it “a systemic bias” event in the country.
In response to this, the Indo-Canadian community is demanding an apology from Poilievre. Many Indo-Canadians feel that this decision has further entrenched that sense of alienation among them. The community consisted of almost 850,000 Indo-Canadians, and they have been an integral part of Canada’s multicultural fabric for a long time.
The office for Poilievre released no formal statement to address the backlash. The issue of systemic discrimination and much more continues to haunt their minds.
It has become the annual Diwali event, held in traditional fashion on Parliament Hill for 23 years now. This year’s cancellation, however, brought those demands into sharp focus-and that is not something about which the government wants a sharp focus.
