Ties between India and Canada have reached an unprecedented level. The two countries are divided over the assassination of Khalistan terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, with Ottawa pointing the finger at New Delhi. India has accused the North American country of harboring Khalistanis. Amid the ongoing diplomatic row, the office of Canadian opposition leader Pierre Poilievre canceled a Diwali celebration on Parliament Hill, home to the country’s parliament in Ottawa.

No Diwali on Canadian Parliament Hill

The Diwali event was scheduled to take place on Wednesday October 30 but was reportedly canceled without explanation. The celebrations were organized by the
Indian diaspora group, the Overseas Friends of India Canada (OFIC), and was to be hosted by Conservative MP Todd Doherty, according to media reports.

The event has been organized for 23 years and has seen the participation of Hindus, Jains, Sikhs and Buddhists in Canada.

A consequence of the diplomatic dispute between India and Canada?

OFIC President Shiv Bhasker wrote a letter to
Poilievreexpressing dismay at the cancellation of the celebrations. “This event was intended to be a joyous occasion to honor Diwali, a festival that is not only deeply meaningful to the Indo-Canadian community, but also emblematic of the multicultural spirit of which Canada prides itself. However, the sudden withdrawal of political leaders from this event, prompted by the current diplomatic situation between India and Canada, left us feeling betrayed and unfairly singled out. These developments, while deeply concerning, should never have resulted in unfair treatment of Canadians of Indian origin, who have no connection to the actions or decisions of a foreign government,” Bhasker wrote in the letter .

“…Racism and discrimination thrive in Canada and this latest development has exposed the systematic biases that still exist. Our politicians, by recusing themselves from these cultural celebrations, have sent a message – intentionally or not – that we, as Canadians of Indian origin, are not fully part of the nation, that we are somehow less Canadian because of our ancestral ties. letter, shared by journalist Daniel Bordman on X, read.

Absolutely shameful behavior on the part of @PierrePoilièvre and the @CPC_HQ cancel Diwali celebrations this year because they fear liberals and the media will accuse them of foreign interference. Shameful and cowardly behavior that really calls into question the… pic.twitter.com/Yd3Ovq5emC

-Daniel Bordman (@DanielBordmanOG) October 29, 2024

“Discrimination” against Indo-Canadians

“By canceling their participation, our political leaders have failed to draw a necessary distinction between the Canadian Indian community and the actions of the Indian government. In doing so, they have unwittingly reinforced the racial stereotypes and biases they claim to oppose,” Bhasker said.

The OFIC president demanded an apology from Poilievre and said the decision to cancel Diwali celebrations would be recalled “at the time of exercising our franchise”.

According to Bhasker, the tradition of organizing Diwali celebrations on Parliament Hill was started by Deepak Obhrai, the former Conservative MP. “After his death (in 2019), other MPs stepped in and continued the tradition, with Todd Doherty being the most recent host. However, this year the Opposition Leader’s office called them and told them to cancel the project,” he said. Printing.

Interestingly, Poilievre attended Canada’s Dusshera celebrations at the Hindu Sabha Mandir on October 14.

Celebrating the victory of good over evil at Canada’s largest Dussehra celebration, at the Hindu Sabha Mandir.

Light will always conquer darkness.

Happy Dussehra! pic.twitter.com/SVkM215d5y

– Pierre Poilievre (@PierrePoilievre) October 13, 2024

Last Diwali celebrations in Canada

The Diwali tradition has continued for more than two decades on Canadian Parliament Hill. During last year’s celebrations, Polivere and the then Indian High Commissioner to Canada
Sanjay KumarVerma addressed the meeting attended by 540 guests.

The event took place in November last year, almost six weeks after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau first claimed there were “credible allegations” that Indian government officials had links to the Nijjar murder.

Terrorist Khalistani was killed outside a gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia on June 18, 2023.

Diwali celebrations continued last year despite tensions between the two countries. However, ties between New Delhi and Ottawa have only deteriorated since then.

Celebrating the timeless lesson of Diwali with Friends at Lakshmi Narayan Mandir in Surrey.

Good triumphs over evil. Knowledge always trumps ignorance. pic.twitter.com/Covpcj2ehc

– Pierre Poilievre (@PierrePoilievre) November 13, 2023

The deterioration of relations between India and Canada

Earlier this month, India recalled Verma along with other diplomats after Ottawa declared the high commissioner as a “person of interest” to the country.
murder of Nijjar. New Delhi too
expelled six Canadian diplomats including Acting High Commissioner Stewart Wheeler and Deputy High Commissioner Patrick Hébert.

Canada also expelled six Indian diplomats and consular officials “in connection with a targeted campaign against Canadian citizens by agents linked to the Indian government.”

However, New Delhi maintained that there was not a single “evidence” shared by authorities in Ottawa regarding Nijjar’s murder.

On November 16, Trudeau admitted he had only intelligence and no “hard evidence” when he alleged the involvement of Indian government agents in Nijjar’s murder last year. However, he said “the Indian government made a terrible mistake in thinking it could intervene so aggressively in Canada’s security and sovereignty.”

With the contribution of agencies