Canada’s opposition leader cancels Diwali event, faces backlash for ‘discriminatory act’
Canada’s opposition leader Pierre Poilievre has called off Diwali celebrations previously scheduled at Parliament Hill, amid ongoing diplomatic tensions with India.
The Overseas Friends of India Canada (OFIC), organizers of the event, were not provided with a reason for the cancellation, which was initially set to be hosted by Conservative MP Todd Doherty on October 30.
Relations between India and Canada have recently worsened after Ottawa accused Indian diplomats of gathering intelligence and using criminal networks to target members of the pro-Khalistan movement. In response, India recalled its ambassador and expelled six Canadian diplomats.
OFIC President Shiv Bhasker expressed disappointment in a letter to Poilievre, highlighting that community members felt “betrayed and unfairly targeted.” Bhasker criticized Poilievre’s decision, calling it an “insensitive and discriminatory act” and requested an apology, noting that diplomatic tensions should not translate to bias against Canadians of Indian descent who have no government affiliations.
At the previous Diwali celebration in November 2023, Poilievre and then-Indian High Commissioner to Canada, Sanjay Kumar Verma, addressed a gathering of around 540 guests.
“This issue goes beyond a canceled Diwali event,” Bhasker wrote, adding, “It reveals a troubling presence of systemic bias and discrimination that remains deeply rooted in Canada.”
