Canadian Hindu organizations upset after LoP Poilievre cancels Diwali celebrations

Pierre Poilievre, leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, speaks during Question Time in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, October 29, 2024. | Photo credit: Reuters

Hindus in Canada are saddened after opposition leader Pierre Poilievre opted to cancel the 2024 Diwali celebrations.

The Hindu Forum on Canda says this move sends a clear message of exclusion to the community.

“A move that sends a clear message of exclusion to a community that is deeply woven into the Canadian cultural fabric. Diwali, a festival that symbolizes light and unity, is celebrated worldwide, with leaders like US President Biden and astronaut Sunita Williams honoring it with great respect. CPC leader Pierre Poilievre has shown worrying contempt for Canadian Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists and Jains. This decision is a politically motivated act of appeasement that leaves out an important, vibrant segment of Canadian society,” said a statement from the Hindu Forum.

The organization called on people of Indian descent in Canada to vote for leaders who stand with all Canadians.

“Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists and Jains in Canada – nearly 2.5 million strong – are fast-growing communities that have made meaningful contributions in everything from science to education. Mutual respect between communities is what strengthens Canada, but it seems so does the CPC’s leadership. Not upholding this principle when it comes to these communities. It is critical that Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists and Jains unite against decisions that show a lack of respect for our culture and beliefs. Let us choose wisely in the upcoming federal elections Poilievre is not yet Prime Minister, but his true nature of appeasement politics is reflected in the cancellation of Diwali celebrations. If he were to become Prime Minister, what other tactics could he use? Our votes must go to leaders who genuinely respect and support all Canadians, and we must make our voices heard. This Diwali, let us stand together for representation, respect and true inclusivity,” the statement said.

Earlier, Canadian opposition leader Pierre Poilievre canceled Diwali celebrations, which were supposed to take place on Parliament Hill, amid the ongoing diplomatic row with India.

The Overseas Friends of India Canada (OFIC), the organizer of the event, received no explanation for the cancellation of the Diwali celebration.

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The statement comes amid strained ties between India and Canada, following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s allegations of Indian involvement in the 2023 killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

The situation has led to diplomatic tensions and the expulsion of six Canadian diplomats from the country in mid-October.

OFIC President Shiv Bhasker wrote a letter to Pierre Poilievre, expressing his dissatisfaction with the decision. In a letter to Pierre Poilievre, Bhasker wrote: “It is with extreme disappointment and sadness that I write this letter to you to express our dismay that the Office of the Leader of the Opposition is canceling the 24th Diwali celebration on Parliament Hill.”

“The inability of the politicians to attend this important cultural event, especially at such a delicate time, sends a clear message to Indo-Canadians: that we are not seen as fellow Canadians, but as outsiders who are on the somehow connected to the political actions of a country to which many of us have ancestral ties, but no direct connection to,” the letter said.

Bhasker further urged the Office of the Leader of the Opposition to acknowledge the damage caused to the Indo-Canadian community by the cancellation of a Diwali celebration.

“This canceled event was not just a political rally; it was meant to celebrate Diwali, a festival that brings families, friends and communities together in a spirit of light, hope and renewal. By distancing himself from this celebration, our political leader has turned what should have been a moment of unity into a moment of division,” the letter said.