Canadian opposition leader Pierre Poilievre has joined the trend, canceling the Diwali celebrations on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. The Indian-Canadian diaspora community has seriously condemned this. It was announced on the heels of rising diplomatic tension between Canada and India, especially after allegations cropped up about Indian diplomats being behind the targeting of pro-Khalistani individuals.
Shiv Bhasker, organizer of the Diwali event and president of the Overseas Friends of India Canada, expressed disappointment that no explanation was given for the cancellation. Bhasker has written to Poilievre, describing the cancellation as “discriminatory” and “insensitive” because the event was for celebrating Diwali, a great, meaningful festival of Indo-Canadian communities and a symbol of multicultural identity in Canada.
Conservative MP Todd Doherty was to host the event on October 30. Many feel the event cancellation is unfair, saying it picks on them due to the present diplomatic climate. Bhasker’s letter underlined that what has happened between political leaders should not lead to unfair treatment of Canadians of Indian descent unconnected with the actions of a foreign government.
It pointed out the systemic racism and discrimination still prevalent in Canada, and Bhasker said that judgment reflects those biases. A step like this from the leaders amounts to a retreat from cultural celebration. It sends an unnerving message about the position of Canadians of Indian origin within the national fabric.
It says it is time now for Poilievre to apologize and take concrete steps to address the systemic racism and discrimination that caused that program to be canceled. Bhasker underlined that the letter represents one unified voice within the Indo-Canadian community, calling for treatment as full members of Canadian society.
Overseas Friends of India Canada has since apologized for the cancellation and is hosting an alternative Diwali celebration on Nov. 23 at the Cedar Hill Golf and Country Club in Nepean. Last year, a similar event was held on Parliament Hill, sponsored by Indo-Canadian parliamentarian Chandrasekhar Arya.
The Indian-Canada diplomatic relationship has never been worse, with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau charging, without credible proof, that Indian agents conspired with criminal gangs to target South Asians in Canada. India has denied these allegations, variously called “absurd” and “malicious,” citing the total lack of concrete evidence from the Trudeau government.
